Ellen Stager

Ellen Butler, Marchioness of Ormonde (26 May 1865 – 17 June 1951), née Ellen Sprague Stager, was an American heiress and British peeress who was the daughter of General Anson Stager. She married Lord Arthur Butler, younger brother of James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde, who became the 4th Marquess of Ormonde of Ormonde in 1919. Ellen held the title Marchioness of Ormonde from 1919 until her husband's death in 1943. She was the mother of George Butler, 5th Marquess of Ormonde and Arthur Butler, 6th Marquess of Ormonde. Early life Ellen was born in Chicago on 26 May 1865 to General Anson Stager and Rebecca Stager (née Sprague). Her siblings were Louise Stager (1849–1923), Annie Stager (1851–1922), Mary Adelaide Stager (1853–1854), and Charles Wade Stager (1860–1867). Anson Stager was a self-made millionaire, who started his career as an apprentice on the Rochester Daily Advertiser. He later found work as a telegraph operator, and received a series of promotions throughout the 1840s and 50's which culminated in his appointment as the first general superintendent of the Western Union Company in 1856. During the American Civil War Stager was asked by Governor Dennison of Ohio to manage telegraphs in Ohio and along the Virginia Line, which led to a later appointment as head of the Military Telegraph Department in Washington. He accompanied General McClellan during the West Virginia Campaign, and was credited with establishing the first system of field telegraphs during the Civil War. Stager retained his civilian status during the war, and in 1868 he was made a brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers.