THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
*53 
A. WILLIS. 
A. Willis was born in Delavan, Wis., in 1843. He is the 
eldest son of L. H. and Mary M. Willis. He received his 
education principally at the country shool and the high school 
in the neighborhood of his home. 
His experience as a nurseryman was begun in the employ of 
J Shearman at Richford, Ill., in 1864 and this was continued 
with various parties in Illinois, Missour and Indiana until the 
spring of 1871, when he went to Ottawa, Kas., as a contractor 
to grow stock for a firm in Missouri. This was continued dur¬ 
ing the years 1871 and 1872. 
In the spring of 1873 business was begun on his own account. 
This promised fair success until the summer of 1874, when it 
became necessary to contribute his stock to feed a horde of 
hungry grasshoppers, and as he made another contribution of 
the same kind in the spring of 1875 and these contributions 
were apparently unappreciated by the grasshoppers and un¬ 
profitable to him, planting was 
suspended for the year 1876. 
A small plant was made in the 
spring of 1877 and plantings 
have been made regularly every 
year since. The amount has 
from time to time been largely 
increased until at this time the 
nursery is one of the leading 
establishments west of the Mis- 
sippi River. Other nurseries 
are also now established there, 
so at present Ottawa is probably 
the first nursery centre in the 
state. With the increase in 
planting has also come increased 
facilities in every department, 
until at this time the establish¬ 
ment is especially well provided 
with facilities for business in 
all departments. 
Mr. Willis has never sought 
political preferment, but has 
served as member of the city 
council two terms and as presi¬ 
dent of the council for three 
years. He has also been for many years secretary of the 
board of trustees of Ottawa University, one of the best edu¬ 
cational institutions in the West ; has also for many years 
been president of the local Horticultural Society, and a mem¬ 
ber of the American Association of Nurserymen. He has 
always and yet does consider it his especial business to serve 
in the best manner the interests of the trade and of his chosen 
city and state. 
Mr. Willis married in the summer of 1872 Miss Amelia 
Estesly, and now has a family of three daughters and one son. 
The eldest daughter, Miss Ola Willis, is an active assistant in 
the business. 
IN HONOR OF GEORGE ELLWANGER. 
Twenty-four friends of George Ellwanger, of the firm of 
Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., gathered on December 
2d at the old family mansion to celebrate the 80th birth¬ 
day of Mr. Ellwanger. Those who were present are known to 
all who have knowledge of Rochester’s chief interests and 
several are known far beyond the city limits. They were : 
Gilman H. Perkins, Judge George F. Danforth, Dr. E. M. 
Moore, Joseph O’Connor, Professor W. C. Morey, Dr. Max 
Landsberg, Samuel Sloan, William F. Peck, Rev. Algernon 
S. Crapsey, Theodore Bacon, Professor S. A. Lattimore, Fred¬ 
erick A. Whittlesey, ex-President David J. Hill, Josiah Anstice, 
Edward S. Ellwanger, Dr. E. V. Stoddard, William C. Barry, 
George H. Ellwanger, Erickson Perkins, William D. Ellwanger, 
Rufus A. Sibley, Professor H. F. Burton, J. Moreau and C. B. 
Woodworth. 
Joseph O'Connor, editor of the Buffalo Enquirer , in his 
speech, said : 
To night we are here to celebrate the eightieth birthday of George 
Ellwanger. When he was born the great French revolution was filling 
the world with new and startling ideas. There is something significant 
in the German boy coming to this land at that time, and cultivating the 
flowers and trees and building up a beautiful kingdom of peace, a home 
beautiful in all its surroundings. 
The kingdoms which Napoleon 
founded have passed away, the 
governments which he created are 
no more, the crowns he presented 
are no longer worn by his favored 
ones, but the kingdom of the German 
child survives in all that is most 
beautiful and fragrant on earth. 
Such men have contributed much to 
bring about our national greatness. 
It might be appropriate to cele¬ 
brate his birthday in lyrics like 
those of Chaucer, and picture the 
flowers and plants singing matins 
iu his praise, for the much that he 
has done to make the homes beauti¬ 
ful. He said to me a short time ago 
that he felt the shadow of life ap¬ 
proaching, but I see some of the 
brightest and best minds in the 
country assembled about this table 
to do him honor, and I am im¬ 
pressed with the fact that there is 
nothing so beautiful as a peaceful, 
a serene, a calm old age—a well- 
preserved, bale, hearty old age, one 
with a clear conscience. May death 
be long delayed to those about our 
board, but when it comes, it comes 
in grace and strength and beauty. 
Theodore Bacon, lawyer, scholar and wit, in a happy speech, 
presented Mr. Ellwanger a silver loving cup inscribed: “Amico; 
amici.” “To a friend; friends.” 
The cup was then passed around, and amidst poetic quota¬ 
tions and lively sallies of wit, each one drank from it to the 
health of Mr. Ellwanger. 
Mr. Ellwanger responded very briefly, but with much feel¬ 
ing, saying : “ I am overpowered by these words and this beau¬ 
tiful present. I am not worthy of them. I can only thank 
you from the bottom of my heart for this great kindness, and 
for one of the most pleasant occasions of my life.” 
F. W. Watson&Co., Topeka, Ivan. —“We have been well satisfied 
with the results of our advertisements in The National Nursery¬ 
man, and will continue to use its columns.’’ 
J. C. Grossman, Wolcottville, Ind. —“Enclosed find $1 for The 
National Nurseryman for one year.- Sample copy was received and 
j am much pleased with it.” 
