Funeral services were held this morning at the Baptist Church for John B. Ellett, 89, former Hays resident, who died November 23, 1934 at Pomona, Mo. near his home at Mountain View, Mo. Rev. R. J. Wynne was in charge of the services and the Casper J. Middlekauff post of the American Legion had charge of the burial service at Mt. Allen cemetery. Music at the service was provided by Plainville residents, the accompanist being Mr. A. D. Anderson, and the quartet included Sydney Green, Orville Gilbert, Mrs. Sadie Ford and Mrs. P. D. Pasegate. Pall bearers were Herbert Leonard, Adam Stahl, Harley Bland, Harvey Anderson, Cleve Gardels, and George Hagerman, Plainville, Legionnaires.

John Benjamin Ellet, son of Sarah Ann and John Nelson Ellett was born in Henderson county, Illinois, February 21, 1845. Mr. Ellett left his home and went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, in Company E, 35th Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served until the end of the war. Then he returned to his home in Illinois and in 1866 he moved to Brownville, Nebraska where he resided for about a year. He moved from there to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he freighted fire arms and ammunition for the government to Denver, Colorado in 1867.

Later he moved to Peru, Kansas where he was married to Miss Mary A. Bracelen (Bracelin) in 1868. Two children, Clara and Tom were born. Mr. Ellett owned a general store, hotel, and real estate business in Peru and engaged in the mercantile business in several other towns in southern Kansas. Mrs. Ellett died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. On June 20, 1889, he was married to Miss Tressa Ridgway, at Hays City, Kansas. To this union were born one daughter and four sons.

In 1893, Mr. Ellett made the race to Oklahoma, when the Cherokee Strip was opened and homesteaded near Isabella, Oklahoma. He later spent 5 years on a ranch near Branson, Colorado before locating 13 years ago at Mountain View, Mo., where he had since resided. The oldest daughter, Clara died in 1902. Mr. Ellett is survived by his widow, of the home; a son Tom of Plainville, Kansas; a daughter, Mrs. Anna Dill of Mountain View, Mo.; a son Louis of Stockton, Kansas; a son Frank of Plainville; a son Edward of Mountain View, Mo.; and a son Paul of Deer Trail, Colorado.

Hays residents will remember Mr. Ellett as a stepson of the late Judge Dave Rathbone and a brother of Mrs. William Butts, former residents here.
Taken from the Hays Daily News on 28 Nov 1934