John J. Ellis
Agency patch
Undersheriff

John J. Ellis

Accident
End of Watch March 21, 1874
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Undersheriff John Ellis succumbed to the cold while returning to Elko after collecting court fees. A massive search was launched after he failed to return.

His body was not found until two months later when several hunters discovered his snow shoes and a campsite. His body was located approximately 400 yards from the campsite. The fees he had collected were located with his body along with his record book detailing the fees.

Undersheriff Ellis, On today, the 150th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Elko County.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol(Retired) March 21st, 2024

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-F5D93281
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Undersheriff Ellis served with the Elko County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Elko community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Elko, Elko County, NV
Platform Identity ecso.elko.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1874
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Undersheriff John J. Ellis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NV, 40 of 146 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.4% of this state's fallen. That is 27.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Elko County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 7 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Elko County Sheriff's Office
2
of 7 officers
28.6% Accident
NV — Statewide
40
of 146 officers
27.4% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Ellis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John J. Ellis Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Ellis is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897