ELLIS, Martha W. (Melton), Beeville Bee, Thursday, 8 Dec 1887:

In Memoriam.  Departed this life at her home at 2:50 AM Dec. 5, 1887, Mrs. Martha W. (Melton) 
Ellis, wife of F. M. Ellis, after a painful illness of a little less than four days.

Mrs. Ellis was born in Green Co. Alabama, July 1, 1834, was married to her surviving husband, 
Feb. 23, 1850, professed the Christian religion and united with the Methodist Church in 
Mississippi in 1853, moved to Texas in 1956 and with her husband located at St. Mary’s in 
1859.  She was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist Church at St. Mary’s in 1860 by 
Elder Barlow.  She moved to Beeville in 1878, and there united with the Beeville Baptist Church 
of which she lived a faithful consistent member.  During 34 years of her Christian life she proved 
the realities and pleasures of the religion of Jesus.  

She was stricken suddenly on the morning of Dec. 1st with apoplexy, resulting in her death as 
above stated.  Her surviving children, three sons and two daughters, were soon summoned to 
her bedside, except the eldest son who had started to Mississippi with horses for sale.  A dispatch 
informed him of his mother’s condition and he made 60 miles in 8 l/2 hours by horse speed, arriving 
about an hour before his mother breathed her last.  

A husband, three sons and two daughters mourned her departure, and a very large circle of intimate 
friends sympathized in her bereavement.

Her remains were interred in the Beeville Cemetery at 4 PM, Dec. 5.  The funeral services were 
conducted by G. H. M. Wilson, Pastor of the Baptist church, were attended by an unusually large 
number of persons.