ELLIS, Daniel G. 1826-1916

ELLIS, HAMTON, MEAD, HIGHLEY, FLOYD, HIGGINS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/28/2012 at 11:44:02

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Monday April 10, 1916]

DANIEL G. ELLIS PIONEER, IS DEAD

HAD BEEN RESIDENT OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY SINCE 1850

The death of Daniel G. Ellis, which occurred yesterday morning at his home at 1225 Lafayette Street, removed one of Black Hawk County's earliest pioneers. Deceased had been a resident of this county since 1850 and had just recently passed his ninetieth birthday. He had been in poor health during the past few months, but had been much better of late, so that the end came unexpectedly.

Daniel G. Ellis was born in Washington County, Ohio in 1826, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Ellis. He was the grandson of the Rev. Michael Ellis, a minister of the Methodist Church, who came from England and settled in Virginia. Later he moved with his family to Perry County, Ohio, where he reared a large family of children. Reuben Ellis, father of the Waterloo man, was a farmer in Washington County and was the father of 16 children, of whom Mr. Ellis was the last survivor.

Mr. Ellis was reared in Washington County and there cleared a tract of land and followed farming until after his marriage to Mary Hampton. In 1850 he came west to Black Hawk County, locating ten miles south of Waterloo on the west bank of the Cedar River. He later secured a farm on the east side of the river and farmed there successfully until 1892, when he retired from active work and moved to Waterloo. He then sold his farm and purchased the residence at 1225 Lafayette Street which he occupied until the time of his death.

Mr. Ellis' first wife died in September, 1896, at the age of 69 years. Subsequently he married Mrs. Rushia* Higgins, nee Meade, also a native of Ohio, and who has lived in Black Hawk County since 1854. She survives.

Deceased was a veteran of the Civil War and an active member of Robert Anderson Post, G. A. R. He had enlisted in 1863 with Company C. Ninth regiment of Ohio volunteer cavalry and served throughout the remainder of the war. He was engaged largely in scout service in Arkansas and Missouri and during the last days of the war was confined in a hospital.

Mr. Ellis was always keenly interested in the activities of the Black Hawk County Early Settlers' Association. He had served as president of that organization and always was a conspicuous figure at its annual gatherings. When he came to this county there were but two houses where Waterloo is now situated, both log cabins, one of which was located on the west side of the river and owned by James Virden. He had been an interested spectator of the growth and development of the city from its beginnings.

Early in life Mr. Ellis united with the Methodist Church and he never relinquished his interest though in later years his health had necessitated that he give up more active service. Since coming to Waterloo he had been a member of Grace Church and was one of its oldest members.

Deceased had in his younger days served in several offices of trust, among them being the offices of township trustee and school director. He had also been postmaster at Eliza and later at Elk Run. In the early days his home was a stage station for a number of years.

Mr. Ellis is survived by his widow and three grandchildren, George B. Highley of this city, Ira J. Highley of Iowa Falls and Mrs. W. B. Floyd, also of Waterloo.

The funeral will be held Tuesday. Prayer service will be conducted at the house at 1 o'clock and the funeral will follow at the Grace M. E. Church at 1:30. Burial will be made in the Raymond Cemetery.

------------------------------------------------
[From History of Black Hawk County 1904]

Mr. Ellis was married in Washington County, Ohio to Mary Hamton, who died in September 1896, at the age of 69 years.
1990 Fed. Census shows Mary W. Ellis

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen