M. W. Brother Carl Weir Ellenwood was born July 4,1888 on a farm in Dunham Township, Washington County to Oscar Needham Ellenwood and Catherine Weir Ellenwood. Seven years later, they moved to the Weir homestead in Washington County, where they remained twelve years and then to Belpre, Ohio.
He attended country grade schools, Bartlett High School and Mountain Business College at Parkersburg, West Virginia. He worked briefly at the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after which he went to Ohio State University to study horticulture. He began working as a field assistant to Professor F. H. Ballow at the Ohio Experiment Station in 1909. In 1910 he went to Wooster to work in the Department of Horticulture at the Ohio Agricultural Experimental Station, predecessor of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. In 1950 he became an Assistant Professor in the department until two years before retiring in 1960. His last two years at the Station he was in charge of the Public Relations Department. He was the author of many technical publications and was a member of the Ohio State Horticulture Society for 45 years, serving at one time as president. He also was a contributing Editor to “The Ohio Farmer” magazine for many years.
While at the Experimental Station he met Marion Carrington whom he married in 1912. To this union two children were born a son and a daughter. Marion passed away on March 29,1970. In July 1973 he married Virginia Scott.
He was a charter member of Wooster Kiwanis Club, which was organized in 1923 and served the club as president in 1926. An active member of the Wooster Methodist Church, Carl was a Sunday School teacher, member of the official board, chairman of the board and chairman of the church ushers for 15 years. He also served several years on the Wooster Township Board of Education and was also a member of the Wooster Community Hospital Board of Governors.
He was active in the organization of the Wooster Playground Baseball Association. Serving as its president for four years.
M. W. Brother Ellenwood received his Entered Apprentice Degree on September 23, 1914, his Fellow Craft Degree on November 25, 1914 and his Master Mason Degree on January 20, 1915 in Ebenezer Lodge No. 33 at Wooster. In 1920 he became Worshipful Master of Ebenezer Lodge. In 1924 he was elected a Trustee.
M. W. Brother Ellenwood was a member of Wooster Chapter No. 27 Royal Arch Masons since 1916 and was High Priest from 1919-1920. He was Illustrious Master of Wooster Council No. 13 R. & S. M. in 1926, having been a member since 1916. Carl also served as Recorder of Wooster Council. He was Knighted in Wooster Commandery No. 48 Knights Templar in 1925 and became Commander in 1930 and for several years as Chairman of the Easter Sunrise Service, held at the Masonic Temple, sponsored by the Wooster Commandery.
M. W. Brother Ellenwood received all the degrees of the Scottish Rite at Canton, Ohio and was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33rd Degree, Honorary Member, of the Supreme Council in 1970 and crowned an active for Ohio in 1956. He was a member of Tadmor Shrine in Akron and also Nazir Grotto in Canton.
M. W. Brother Ellenwood was very active also in the Order of the Eastern Star. He was initiated into Wooster Chapter No. 270 in 1929 and served as Worthy Patron for five years (1931, 1932, 1934, 1942, 1943). In the Grand Chapter he served as Grand Sentinel in 1938, Associate Grand Patron in 1939 and Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Ohio in 1940.
He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home at Springfield, Ohio for a number of years.
His Jove and devotion for our fraternity was unending. He served for many years as Chairman of the Temples Committee, the Fraternal Relations Committee and was Fraternal Correspondent of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. During his term as Grand Master, he chartered and constituted Carl W. Ellenwood Lodge No. 715 in Rittman, Ohio.
In the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio he was appointed Lecturer of the Twentieth Masonic District by M. W. Brother James B. Ruhl, Grand Master, in November, 1924, and served as Lecturer under Grand Masters Stewart and Minor. While serving as District Lecturer, he organized the Masters’ and Wardens’ Association of the Twentieth District. He was appointed Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge in November, 1929, by Grand Master M. W. Brother James W. Morgan, serving in succeeding years as Grand Orator, Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden, and Deputy Grand Master. He was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master on November 1, 1934.
About his own personal philosophy he had this to say: “If you wish to succeed in anything you do, honesty and hard work will stand you in greater stead than any other attributes.” His was a long life, a good life and a life that contributed to a better world. We are fortunate to have had him among us.
M. W. Brother Ellenwood departed this life, December 330, 1977. Funeral Services were conducted by Dr. William Hogg on 2 January 1978. Interment was in Wooster Cemetery, Section 18, Lot 2351, Wooster, Ohio.