The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
WILLIAM MORRISON ELLIS.
Upon the roll of Appanoose county's honored dead appears the name of William Morrison Ellis, who is held in loving and grateful remembrance by his many friends in this section, although thirteen years have passed since his death. He was for a long period one of the substantial and pro- gressive agriculturists of this section of the state and through the years of his honorable and upright career he gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. Mr. Ellis was a native of Kentucky, bom on the 13th of January, 1830, his parents being Marcellus and Nancy Ellis, both natives of Kentucky. The father farmed in that state for some time but eventually came north and settled in Indiana, whence in 1855 he came to Caldwell township, Appanoose county, where he purchased land and engaged in general agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life.
Wrr.LTAM M. ELLTS
MRS. M. A. ELLIS
William M. Ellis acquired his education in the public schools of Ken- tucky and of Harrison county, Indiana, and grew to manhood in the latter section. He left Harrison county about the year 1850, trading his prop- erty in that state for a land warrant for forty acres in Sharon township, Appanoose county, to which he added eighty acres entered from the govern- ment. For a number of years he concentrated his attention upon the im- provement and development of this farm, making it in all respects a model agricultural enterprise. When he left Sharon township he moved into Caldwell township, purchasing eighty acres, and upon this property he carried on general agricultural pursuits. His intelligently directed energies brought him success and he continued to cultivate his farm until his death, which occurred in 1899. His widow now lives upon the homestead, which for some time she rented out but which her grandson Vemie L. Ellis is now operating for her.
On the 25th of December, 1849, Mr. Ellis was united in marriage, in Harrison county, Indiana, to Miss Margaret A. Ellis, a daughter of Daniel and Mary Ellis, natives of Kentucky, whose ancestors came from Virginia and were originally of Dutch, Irish and Welsh extraction. Daniel and Mary Ellis went from Kentucky to Indiana and spent the remainder of their lives on a farm in Harrison county. The mother died in 1851, after which Daniel Ellis married Mrs. Patsy Bunch, of Harrison county, who has passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Ellis became the parents of six children. The eldest, America, passed away at the age of fifteen. Perry, a farmer of Vermillion township, married Violinda Eddy and they became the parents of eight children, Lloyd, Floyd, Ella, Bessie, May, Alta, and William and Russell, both of whom have passed away. Jesse, the third child bom to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, is a farmer in Vermillion township. He married Belle Grimes and by her has six children, Lonnie, Maude, Pearl, Hazel, Hygene and Fitz. Laura married Clint Toney, a farmer of Sublett, Missouri. They have seven children, John, Hazel, Pansy, Ivy, Nora, Marion and Arthur. Millard is a cement worker in Centerville. He has been married three times, his third wife being Miss Ro.se Hitchcock. By his first union he is the father of five children, Ernest, Clyde, Vemie, Ethel and Shirley, and by his third marriage has one son, Harold. The youngest child bom to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis is Cora Delia, who married Harry Bennefield, a stockman in Oklahoma, by whom she has four children, Otis, Blanche, Elsie and William. Mrs. Ellis has now reached the age of eighty-two years but is still active and vigorous and enjoys the best of health. She comes of a long-lived family. Her grandfather, John Ellis, lived to be one hundred and one years old and then met his death by accident, having
been thrown out of a buggy and killed. Her great-grandfather was struck by lightning and killed at the age of one hundred and two years.
William M. Ellis was loyal in his support of the men and measures of the democratic party and, although he was no office seeker, he was never- theless identified with many local enterprises and was known as a cooper- ant factor in many measures that directly benefited the community. He was for several terms director of the school board and fraternally was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gave devout adherence to the doctrines of the Christian church, exemplifying in his up- right life the principles in which he believed. Those things which are most worthy and commendable in life made strong appeal to him and the standards of honorable manhood found worthy expression in his career, gaining for him widespread respect and esteem and many friends.
Source: Past and Present of Appanoose County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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