J. L. ELLIS

ELLIS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 15:11:12

J. L. ELLIS, Nevinville, Adams county, Iowa, is a Nova Scotian by birth, having first seen the light on the 23rd of November, 1826. When a mere lad he went to Massachusetts, and lived in that State until he was twenty-nine years old. He came to Adams county, Iowa, and settled where he now resides in the fall of 1856. His father, J. A. Ellis, also a native of Nova Scotia, was born March 10, 1803. He, however, spent the greater part of his life in Massachusetts, where he died April 15, 1887. His family consisted of twelve children, seven daughters and five sons, J. L. being the eldest son.

In 1857 Mr. Ellis commenced farming near Nevinville, and in June of that year was united in marriage to Miss Theresa M. Trask, who came from Nova Scotia to join him. They have been blessed with eight children, five of whom are living. Among their number are two pairs of twins. Their oldest son, Walter M. Ellis, is a Congregational minister, now stationed in Wisconsin; George R. Ellis is engaged in gold-mining in the Black Hills, South Dakota; Elizabeth M. Ellis is engaged in teaching in the public schools of Fontanelle, Adair county, Iowa; her twin sister, Miss Theresa A., is a teacher, stenographer and typewriter, at present residing in Denver, Colorado; Robert W. is a student of Tabor College, and is also a teacher.

Mr. Ellis like his father before him, has always been a farmer. He owns 135 acres of fine, well-improved land in sections 3 and 2, Colony township, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, giving especial attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He has a beautiful home, two large barns, numerous outbuildings, fine orchard and groves, and every thing necessary for successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Ellis served one term as county Surveyor, and for fifteen years as Justice of the Peace in Nevinville; has also held, on various occasions, the offices of Township Trustee, member of the School Board, etc. He has ever taken an active part in the promotion of the educational interests of the community in which he lived. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have been connected with the Congregational Church of Nevinville ever since its organization thirty- three years ago, and he has served in the capacity of Deacon for fifteen years. Their family are also members of the same church. For the past forty-three years Mr. Ellis has kept a record of daily events.