Elmer Ellsworth Enoch began practicing law at Wichita when that city was still on the southwestern frontier, and within the range of his own observation he had witnessed history in its making in that part of the state. His home had been in Wichita upwards of thirty years, and his reputation as an able lawyer had become widely extended.
He was born in Morristown, Belmont County, Ohio. February 10, 1864, and was liberally educated in preparation for his professional career. After the public schools he entered Franklin College in his native state, where he was graduated A. B. in 1885. For several years he diligently pursued the study of law, being admitted to the bar at St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1888, and in the same year he came out to Kansas and opened his office in the little City of Wichita.
After a brief period of waiting clients came to him, and entrusted him with their law business. He had had a reputation extending over many years of doing whatever he does do thoroughly, and bringing a conscientions performance to every task entrusted. Official homors and responsibilities were also thrust upon him. In 1895-97 and again from 1901 to 1904, he was clerk of the Probate Court of Sedgwick County. In 1897 he was elected justice of the peace, serving two years. In 1903 he was made probate judge of Sedgwick County and served from that year until 1907 inclusive. Since then he had applied himself with little interruption to his law practice. At the present time he is a member of the Wichita Board of Education.
In 1888, the year he was admitted to the bar and came to Kansas, Judge Enoch married Ella Douglas West. Her father, now deceased, was a state senator of Ohio. To their marriage have been born five children; Edith, wife of J. L. FOX of Joplin, Missouri; Mary; Henry S.; Alfred W.; and Elmer Ellsworth, Jr. The son Henry is now a student in the law department of the University of Chicago, and it is said that he is the only student who ever entered that law school direct from a high school course.