Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 3 November 2005

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1001

JAMES W. ELLIS, farmer; P. O. Harveysburg; born in Massie Township, March 12, 1844; is a son of Lee and Eliza (King) Ellis; he was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, June 9,1815; she was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1825. The grandparents, Leonard and Mary (Babb) Ellis; he was a native of Kentucky and she of Virginia. The greatgrandfather was Leonard Ellis, who died in Kentucky. The grandfather, Leonard Ellis, was raised to manhood in Kentucky; went to Virginia and was married; and in 1813 emigrated to Ohio and located in Clinton Co., one of the early settlers. In 1819 or 1820, removed to Warren Co.; in 1824, removed to Clarksville, Clinton; in 1838, again located in Warren Co., Massie Township, where they lived and died; he died in May, 1856, aged 72 years; his wife died in May, 1842, aged 56 years. They had four sons, two now survive—Lee and James. When Mr. Ellis first located in Clinton Co., Wilmington consisted of a few cabins, brush heap and stumps; deer, turkeys, and wild game were abundant. Now what a contrast! the town of Wilmington is a large, flourishing city, with fine brick and frame residences, and instead of the almost unbroken forests, are fine farms, with fields of waving grain, and for this great and admirable change we are indebted to the industry and hard labor of these worthy old pioneers. The maternal grandparents were Richard and Sarah King, natives of Adams Co., Ohio. They had two sons and five daughters, five now survive—Amos W., Eliza, William, Mary Jane (now Mrs. Harlan) and Sarah Ann (now Mrs. McIntyre, residing in Iowa). Mr. and Mrs. King died when Eliza, the mother of our subject, was but a child, and she was raised by her uncle at Clarksville. Mr. Ellis, the father of our subject, was married March 9, 1843., issue six children, five now survive—James W.; Nancy C., born Dec. 30,1847; Sarah Louisa, born Jan. 27, 1850, now Mrs. Jessup; Samuel A., born Oct. 1, 1857; and Mary E., born June 15, 1860. Mr. Ellis located on a farm adjoining the one where he now lives, and has never made but the one move from that place to where he now resides, which change was made about 1846, and here has now made a continued residence of thirty-five years. Mr. Ellis obtained a limited education in the old log school house, with greased paper windows, and started out in life a poor man, but by his own industry, hard labor, and good management has accumulated a good competency; owns a large amount of land, and is one of the leading farmers and prominent citizens of Massie Township, and is strictly a self-made man. The subject of this sketch was raised to manhood within a quarter of a mile of where he now resides; was married Oct. 15, 1866, to Anna M., daughter of David and Rachel (Hawkins) Allen, natives of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio in 1831, and located in Warren Co., thence removed to Greene Co., thence back to Warren Co. Mrs. Allen died April 3, 1881, aged 77 years. Mr. Allen, now 77 years of age, resides near Ridgeville. They had nine children, five now survive—Lucinda, now Mrs. Corwin ; Mary Effie, now Widow Carpenter; Eleanor Dorse, Amos and Annie M., who was born in Greene Co., Oct. 18, 1845. Mr. Ellis