Looking for Lennsford Ellis Adams

ELLIS, ADAMS, SELLWOOD, MYERS, LANIGAN

Posted By: Mary (email)
Date: 2/6/2008 at 19:01:33

I am looking for a possible family of my great grandfather who lived in Clayton County Iowa. Also looking to find when and where he died.

Lennsford Ellis Adams was born Oct. 13th 1865 in New York State. His mother died when he was six weeks old, and his father brought him to John. Quincy Adams, of Clayton County Iowa; asking them to claim his son. His father Mr. Ellis never returned to claim him and he was given the surname Adams. He was never adopted by John and Rosa.

His first marriage was to Lillie A. Church December 6, 1888. Lillie was the daughter of Orange and Julia Church. She attained a divorce November 3, 1892 in Iowa. Second Marriage was to Sarah Bonner in 1895.

He was called Capt. Lenn as at that time he had his own ferryboat which he operated on the Mississippi River between McGregor, Iowa and Prarie De Chien, Wisconsin. In his later years he was caretaker of the famous Dousman house, an old mansion owned by the Hudson Bay Fur Company at Prarie De Chein, Wisc.

Lenn is in the 1870 census aged 6 born in New York, South Fork Twp. Delaware County Iowa, living with his foster parents John & Rosa Adams, his foster brothers being Dooran and Truman Adams.

Capt. Lennsford Ellis Adams had 3 children. Malen Lennsford Ellis Adams was my grandfather, Elsie Mabel and Charles. When Sarah abandoned the family, Lennsford took the children to Ottumwa and had them placed in the Homefindings orphanage. Only my grandfather was adopted by Herman Sellwood and is buried at Memorial Lawn Cemetery at Ottumwa. Elsie Mabel was in about 8 foster homes before moving to Glenwood where she was married to Mr. Munyon. She is buried at Glenwood Cemetery there. I do not know where Charles is buried and know nothing of his family.