County of Christian, Kentucky.  Historical and Biographical.  Edited by 
William Henry Perrin.  F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1884, pp. 362-363.

JAMES O. ELLIS (deceased) was born near Hopkinsville, in Christian 
County, Ky., January 22, 1832, and was the sixth of eight children born 
to Nicholas Ellis and Mary Ellis (nee Gunn).  These parents came from 
Virginia, settling in this county in 1831. Nicholas Ellis died in 
Christian County about 1848, and his widow, who was born in 1800 in 
North Carolina, is still living and a member of the family of her 
daugher, Mrs. G. V. Thompson.  Of the eight children born to them the 
following are now living - Allen W., Mrs. Fannie Gowen, Emily Rice, of 
Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Ann McCarrol, and Mrs. G. V. Thompson.  James O. 
Ellis grew to manhood in Christian and Trigg Counties, in the latter of 
which he was chiefly educated.  In 1853, in Hopkinsville, Ky., he was 
married to Miss Robert Catherine Bradley, who was born in Allen County, 
Kentucky, March 14, 1833.  For three years after marriage Mr. Ellis 
resided in Hopkinsville employed in mercantile labor, and in 1856 
removed to Pettis County, Mo., where he was engaged in farming until 
1862.  In the early history of the war he sustained a total loss of his 
property by raiding soldiers, and soon after returned to Hopkinsville, 
where he obtained a position as book-keeper for the firm of McGowan & 
McReynolds.  After two years in their service he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff of the county, and for several years had charge of the principal 
business of that office; he was finally elected to the office of 
Sheriff; then to the office of Judge of the Christian County Court, 
which position he filled with credit for four years.  In the last years 
of his life he served as Auditor and City Treasurer and Deputy County 
Clerk.  He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of 
Honor and Knights of Pythias.  He died November 22, 1880, leaving five 
children, viz., Nannie, wife of L. H. McKee; John G. Ellis, Mary Ellis, 
Richard D., of Louisville, Ky., and Jimmie Ellis.  John G. is a member 
of the Knights of Pythias, and at present engaged in the coal trade, but 
for several years has engaged in mercantile pursuits.  Mrs. R. C. Ellis 
is still living, and is an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church.

Ellis Gunn Thompson Gowen Rice McCarrol Bradley McGowan McReynolds McKee
=
VA NC KS Trigg-KY Allen-KY Pettis-MO Louisville-Jefferson-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/christian/ellis.jo.txt