One of the most forceful senators of the last assembly was Senator P. O. Ellison, of Anamosa, who represented Jones and Cedar counties in the senate. Senator Ellison was born in New York city, July 4, 1853. He obtained both his general and legal education in that city. He came west in 1875, and settled in Jones county, at Wyoming. He immediately identified himself with the people professionally and politically. He was elected by the republicans, and served two terms as mayor of Wyoming. When the office of county attorney was created in Jones county, Senator Ellison was elected to fill that office, and was twice re-elected, serving three terms. In 1889 he removed to Anamosa, his present home, and formed a partnership with Ezra Keeler, which relation was sustained till the removal of Mr. Keeler to Denver. He has served Anamosa two years as mayor, and twice he has served as chairman of the Jones county republican central committee. His election to the house in 1893 was a great victory politically, as Jones county for years before that time had been strongly democratic, and he ran ahead of the ticket in the neighborhood of 150 votes. In the senatorial campaign of 1895 he again won over the democrats, increasing his majority by 100 votes. Last session he was chairman of the committee on commerce, and acted on the committees on judiciary, constitutional amendments, banks, senatorial and representative districts, pharmacy, and compensation of public officers. He was married in November, 1875, to Miss A. E. McCutcheon. To them have been born one girl and three boys, one of whom is dead. Senator Ellison is a member of the I. O. O. P., K. P., and Modern Woodmen lodges. He is a member of the Methodist church. His wife accompanies him to the city for a part of each session, and is very prominent in legislative circles.

The Senator from Jones county was born in New York city July 4, 1853. He attended school in that place, gaining not only a common school education, but also finished a law course. He settled in Wyoming, Jones county, Iowa, in May, 1875, and commenced the practice of law, and has continued in the active practice ever since. He now enjoys a large and lucrative practice in Jones and adjoining counties. Always a Republican, his friends have delighted to honor him. He served as mayor of Wyoming for two terms. When the office of county attorney was created, he was brought out as a candidate and was elected to that office three times, and refused a nomination for the fourth term. In 1889 he moved to Anamosa and formed a co-partnership with Ezra Keeler in the law business. This continued until Mr. Keeler finally moved to Denver, Colorado. He served as mayor of Anamosa for two years. Twice he has served as chairman of the Jones county Republican central committee. His county has been represented by Democratic representatives for many years. In 1893 the Republicans tendered him the nomination; he accepted, made the fight, and was elected, running ahead of his ticket 125 votes. The Twenty-fourth Senatorial district has been represented by a Democrat for years. Mr. Ellison served with such marked ability in the last House that his friends concluded to send him to the Senate this winter, as the term for the Cedar-Jones counties district Senator expired. He was unanimously nominated and elected by a majority of 225 over John A. Green. the strongest Democrat in the district. Mr. Ellison was a member of the committees on judiciary, appropriations, federal relations, constitutional amendments, penitentiaries, military, congressional districts and municipal corporations, and was chairman of one of the subcommittees of judiciary. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. He attends the Methodist Church.

On the subjects of taxation, temperance and railroads the Hon. F. O. Ellison will be specially heard in the House this winter. He comes from Jones county and besides these general subjects he will have the special care of the Anamosa penitentiary bill on his hands. Mr. Ellison was born in New York city July 4, 1853. He went to school in that place, gaining not only a common school education, but also finishing a law course. For almost twenty years he has been an attorney in active practice, eighteen years of that having been spent in Jones county. Always a Republican, his friends in the past have delighted to honor him. For several years he worked along quietly in his profession, then was brought out for county attorney. He was elected three times and refused the nomination for a fourth term. Just now he is mayor of Anamosa. Twice he has served as chairman of the Jones county Republican central committee. Last fall he entered the field as a candidate for Representative and was easily elected to the place. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. He attends the Methodist Church.