Ellis Baker Usher (June 21, 1852April 21, 1931) was an American journalist, newspaper publisher, and Democratic politician. He served as chairman of the

Democratic Party of Wisconsin The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is currently headed by chair Ben Wikler. Important issues for the state party include support for worke ...

from 1887 to 1890, and was publisher of the La Crosse ''Chronicle'' for 20 years.

Biography

Usher was born in

Buxton, Maine Buxton is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Portland metropolitan area. The population was 8,376 at the 2020 census. Buxton includes the villages of Salmon Falls/Tory Hill, Chicopee, Groveville, Bar Mills, West Buxton ...

, in 1852. As a child, his parents moved the family to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where his father had been hired to work as an agent of Cadwallader C. Washburn in charge of lumber operations on the Black River. Ellis Usher attended local schools in La Crosse, then attended

Lombard College Lombard College was a Universalist college located in Galesburg, Illinois. History Lombard College was founded in 1853 by the Universalist Church as the Illinois Liberal Institute. In 1855, however, a major fire damaged much of the college, p ...

Galesburg, Illinois Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The city is northwest of Peoria. At the 2010 census, its population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County and the principal city of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical ...

, for one year. At age 16, he was hired as a clerical aide to Judge S. S. Burton, who was receiver of the U.S. Land Office and deputy collector of internal revenue. After two years, he became a clerical aide in the real estate business of N. D. Taylor, and shortly became his partner in the business and also assisted in the publishing of a monthly real estate paper. In 1873, he went to work as a reporter for the La Crosse ''Republican and Leader'', and two years later purchased half ownership of the La Crosse ''Daily Liberal Democrat'' newspaper, which he later renamed the La Crosse ''Morning Chronicle''. He was the choice of the Democratic caucus for chief clerk of the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the larger Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after t ...

in 1877, but was not elected. In 1879, he acquired full ownership of the paper. In 1887, Usher was elected chairman of the

, and served for three years. He resigned in 1890 after the death of his father forced him to allocate more time to his private business affairs. He was known for strident speeches and editorials opposing

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President ...

and his platform. Usher sold the ''Chronicle'' in 1901 and moved to

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, to work as a special

correspondent A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is usually a journalist or commentator for a magazine, or an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, locati ...

for Milwaukee newspapers. At the time of his death, he was described as an intimate friend of

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

. In his later years, he returned to Wisconsin and resided in

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...

and ran an advertising business there. In addition to his journalism, Usher studied history and was a member of the

Wisconsin Historical Society The Wisconsin Historical Society (officially the State Historical Society of Wisconsin) is simultaneously a state agency and a private membership organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of N ...

. He published an eight-volume history of Wisconsin in 1914. In 1920, he and his sister, Leila Usher, donated his collection of historical documents and references to the La Crosse Normal School Library. Usher died in Milwaukee on April 21, 1931.

Published works

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Usher, Ellis People from Buxton, Maine Politicians from La Crosse, Wisconsin Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairs Lombard College alumni 1852 births 1931 deaths