John F. Chellis

John F. Chellis (1792 – September 17, 1883) was a Republican who became the ninth lieutenant governor of California from 1862 to 1863.

Chellis was a businessman, and owned several ventures in northern California, including a water-powered gristmill in Sebastopol, California. In 1852 and 1853, Chellis was the primary contractor responsible for constructing the Trinity County. From 1853 to 1854, he served as County Treasurer.¹

Because the state had recently taken control of the prison system, his position as lieutenant governor carried a dual role placing him as warden of San Quentin State Prison.² On the evening of July 23, 1862, there was a prison breakout by up to 300 inmates,³ later regarded as one of the biggest and bloodiest in American history, with Chellis being taken hostage.⁴ The previous few years had seen an increasing number of prison escapes with the resulting manhunts ending in violence. This escape was no exception and a large posse tracked down the escapees; Chellis was released relatively unharmed in the process.⁵

Chellis died September 17, 1883, in Myrtle Creek, Oregon.⁶ According to a letter to the California Secretary of State from a resident of Myrtle Creek, Chellis, who was unknown to him, had appeared at his house on September 9.⁶ Chellis was suffering from a urinary stricture and other health problems, which made him nearly unaware of his surroundings and unable to care for himself.⁶ The letter writer, David Scott Kinnear Buick, further indicated that he had procured a nurse and volunteers to care for Chellis, but Chellis did not recover and died eight days later.⁶ He was buried in the Myrtle Creek Odd Fellows Cemetery on September 18.⁶ In his letter, which was published in several California newspapers, Buick indicated that Chellis had about $12 in cash with him when he died, but no other property.⁶ He had no information with him indicating whether he had any relatives, and if so where, so Buick asked for the Secretary of State's assistance in attempting to notify Chellis's family.⁶