Alice (McAvoy) McEllen
Marriages
Charles McEllen - 1886
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 7, 1928
Word was received in Eagle Monday morning by Mrs. C. L. Hartman of the death in a hospital at Pueblo, Saturday evening, Dec. 1, of Mrs. Chas. McEllen.
Mrs. McEllen was stricken with paralysis at her home in Red Cliff a few weeks ago, and was at once removed to a Pueblo hospital by her brother, Frank McCoy [McAvoy]. Every care was given her, but the stroke was very severe and Mrs. McEllen gradually grew weaker, until the end came suddenly Saturday last. Funeral services were held for the deceased lady in Pueblo Monday morning, after which the body was taken to Denver for burial beside that of her husband, who preceded her in death a few years ago.
Mrs. McEllen was a native of New York state, and came to Colorado and Eagle county in the very early eighties as a bride. Her husband, Chas. McEllen, also of New York state, came first to Red Cliff during the first mining boom following the discovery of ore in the quartzite formation on Battle Mountain. Soon afterward he returned to his native state and was married he and his bride coming to Eagle county and soon afterward became among the first settlers of the Gypsum valley. Here the young bride and her husband settled down to a pioneers' life, and any history of the growth of that wonderfully fertile section would indeed be incomplete without recording the part this couple had in its growth and upbuilding from a wilderness to a garden spot of fertility and prosperity.
Some twelve or fifteen years ago they sold the ranch and moved to Eagle where they built a comfortable home. Here they lived until the passing of the husband, when Mrs. McEllen disposed of her holdings in Eagle and went back to New York state, intending to spend her declining years amid scenes and friends of her youth. But she returned to this county some two years ago and had made her home in Red Cliff where she was living when stricken.
Very few of the early settlers of the county now living but knew the deceased during the days when this section was being settled and builded out of the wilderness it was then, and universally she was beloved and respected. During her days of activity she was in the midst of all movements for the community's betterment. With her passing has gone all other of our early bulwarks who are quietly passing from the scene one by one.
Near relatives who survive Mrs. McEllen are a brother, Frank McAvoy, of Pueblo, and a sister, Miss Elizabeth McAvoy of Ogdensburg, N.Y. The deceased was 75 years of age.
Holy Cross Trail page 1 - December 8, 1928
Mrs. Alice M. McEllen died at St. Mary's Hospital in Pueblo Dec. 1st of paralysis at the age of 75 years. She was born in New York state at Ogdensburg. Mrs. Alice McAvoy McEllen came to Gypsum valley 42 years ago as the bride of Chas. McEllen.
Mr. McEllen having taken up a ranch in upper Gypsum at the mouth of Hardscrabble Gulch, they lived on the homestead for 25 years, locating the place in the raw, without cabin, fence, ditch or clearing. Mr. McEllen had a cabin in which to receive his bride. Mrs. McEllen was like many other brides whose first experience in the west was a roomed cabin surrounded by sage, rock and a friendly cottonwood tree or two. The first landing was followed by a good cry or two and then they took heart, courage and determination. The majority of old time successful settlers went through similar trials and tribulations as the McEllens.
By good management, thrift and industry, they evolved the modern farms, built homes that they are proud of, and left behind them an enviable record.
The old McEllen ranch is one of the most productive in Gypsum valley, due much to Mrs. McEllen's co-working with her husband. She was a rare good soul and leaves many friends.
Her brother and sister fall heir to her property which is mostly invested in bank stock and gilt edge securities.
Her remains were interred in Denver cemetery by the side of her husband.
