Sources & Information:
Ancestry.com > 1870 United States Federal Census, the town of Melrose, County of Sterns, Minnesota, on the 22nd day of June 1870. This shows Ellis, J. G., age 43, male, white, a farmer, born in Massachusetts. Ellis, Elmer, age 17, male, white, born in Vermont.
Letter References:
We have a volumn of copied hand written letters pertaining to John Gilmore Ellis, before and after his Civil War experience. Each of these are maintained in a 3 ring binder, in plastic sheets, labeled John G. Ellis. As a further note, there is considerable unknown genealogical information regarding the children of John Gilmore Ellis and his reported 2nd wife Mary Ann Witherly.
September 16, 1859, State of Vermont, Windham Co., notice of attachment of goods, chattels or estate of John G. Ellis.
January 30, 1860, See letter, in binder, from a O. H. Powell regarding misconduct of John G. Ellis’s wife which does not explain the sharge. John G. Ellis and son Elmer have not yet left for Minnesota.
March 9, 1860, Hand written document by Justice of the Peace, Barnett Waite, directing the Sheriff of the County of Windham, Windham Co., Vermont to enter the homes of ceretain persons in order to retrieve a list of items stolen from the home of John G. Ellis, Londonderry, Windham Co., Vermont.
June 24, 1860, John G. and son Elmer Ellis receive letter form Susan Snow [Ellis] Towne & Charles B. Towne, in Weathersfield, Windsor Co., Vermont inquiring about their new home out west. John’s wife Lois [Marsh] Ellis is apparently not with him.
August 29, 1860, Another letter from Susan and Charles Towne wondering if he received their letter of June 24th. He must have since this genealogist has a copy of same amoung his group of letters. John’s wife Lois has been trying to find out where he is and Susan speaks of her in a despairing way. Susan hopes this letter and any from John get through.
October 6, 1860, Another letter from Susan and Charles Towne, in Weathersfield, Windsor Co., Vermont. Land that had been leased and payment expected from another was creating problems for Charles. The cash flow must be a bit tight.
October 13, 1860, John receives letter from brother Abiathar Parkhurst Ellis indicating all is well and family remains unbroken. The children are Mary Eulind Ellis, Lucy Jane Ellis and Stella A. Ellis. This is their first contact in 3 years and he mentions the problems caused by Civil War and troubling times, the stealing by individuals from crops and farms. He tells of there father John Ellis as having failed the past two years and he is an old man of what he was 5 years before. He tells of Uncle Emery Ellis helping out father John and that Emery lives in Ware, Worcester, MA.
November 11, 1860, John receives a letter from brother Ebenezer Burt Ellis who tells about going to Weathersfield, Vt. only to find that you were not there or in the State of Vermont. Mentions having talked with there sister Susan and further finding out about his bad luck and Family misfortunes. Ebenezer hopes he is still a friend & wants to be in the future but further speaks of wife Lois [Marsh] Ellis as being very deceitful. Ebenezer says if his mother-in-law Polly [Washburn] Stiles does not out live us we shall come your way. [Polly lives to July 8, 1871 & do not believe Ebenezer ever got to Minnoseto]. She further indicates Susan and husband Charles Towne family are having financial and job problems.
November 28, 1860, Weathersfield, Vt., letter from sister Susan updating her and Charlies difficulties. Committments, promises and no follow through. She mentions Ebenezer had come to visit but had a hard time finding her and Charles. That he did not know that John Gilmore Ellis was not still lived in Londonderry, Vt.
February 10, 1861, Weatgersfield, Vt. , letter from sister Susan mentions telling a friend that John’s wife Lois had left him the previous fall or fall of 1860.
April 19, 1864, letter from sister Susan tells about John’s uncle Ebenezer Burt Ellis’s sons Asahel & George Ellis having joined the army and that Asahel had caught the measels and died. This taking place about a year ago. [death actually on April 9, 1863, @ Union Mills, Va. prior to the Battle of Gettysburg that his brother George participated in]. George reported as having returned home but in poor health. Susan is further mixed up on names of first cousins, etc.
April 24, 1864, letter from Hardwick, Massachusetts, from Mary P. [Estabrook] Ellis directed to brother John Gilmore Ellis and his son Elmer M. Ellis.
May 31, 1864, letter from Hardwick, MA., from Abiathar P. Ellis to brother John and son Elmer. Telling about funeral of father and mother, info concerning the Estate of John Ellis and update on other members of the family.
June 2, 1864, Military Record of John Gilmore Ellis he was drafted and mustered into military service at Rochester, Minnesota, 1st Enrollment District, for a period of 3 years as a Private. He gave his place of birth as Massachusetts, age 35 and occupation Farmer. Eyes Hazel; hair dark; completion sandy; height 5' 5 1/2". A bounty was paid and credited at Fremont, Minnesota of $25.00 leaving a bounty due of $75.00. He was assigned to Co. C., 2nd Regiment Minnesota Infantry, by special order No. 13, Regimental Headquarters, dated July 16, 1864.
June 2, 1864, Minnesota War soldiers, web page indicates a John G. Ellis, Private, age 38, Induction date 2 June 1864, Discharge date 11 July 1865, Unit Number Two, Town of Enterprise, County Residence Winona, State Residence Minnesota, Notes Drafted.
June 24, 1864, Nine copies of various papers for John G. Ellis, military record beginning with this date concerning Draft and Company Muster Roll, for E Co., 2nd Infantry Regiment, Minneasota on file.
September 9, 1864, Letter tells of starting from Atlanta on August 27th, loosing a large number of men but his Regiment not having any members killed. Camp two miles south of Atlanta and having torn up a large section of railroad. Burned the tyes & bent the rails. The Rebels burn 80 cars loaded with small arms but we still captured their biggest guns - sixty pounders.
October 1, 1864, Letter to N. B. Ufford who is carring for John’s son Elmer. Still in camp yet the rebels are gathering together between Nashville and Chattanooga with General Thomas now after them.
October 24, 1864, Letter from N. B. Ufford bringing John up todate from back in Minnesota.
November 14, 1864, John receives a letter from son Elmer Ellis, now 12 yrs 3 mos of age.
November 26, 1864, John receives another letter from son Elmer Ellis. He signs it Elmer M. Ellis.
December 15, 1864, John now in Savannah, Georgia. This is part of the movement of Sherman’s march to the Sea as we read it in history. He mentions the buring of towns along the way.
January 10, 1865, Letter from N. B. Ufford, Enterprise, Minnesota. He reports Elmer is doing well, going to school but questions how good the school is.
January 11, 1865, John receives a letter from son Elmer. He mentions having received a letter from his mother along with a picture of her.
January 28, 1865, Abiathar Parkhurst Ellis letter to John Gilmore Ellis discussing amount of Estate money he should be getting. He mentions that brother Ebenezer has said don’t give money to Abiathar because John would never see it. He is further asking about Sherman’s army long march and the stores of the good times the army has had. Believe some of this is Newspaper glorification but wonder what the Southern citizens must have been saying.
April 20, 1865 while in the line of duty, and without fault or improper conduct on his part, at or near Raleigh, N. C., he acquired an injury to his right leg by a bite from insect or reptile while on a skirmish line. He was put in an horse drawn ambulance on the march from Raleigh, N.C. to Nottaway Station. There he went by rail car to Richmond, Virginia and then was put on board a boat and sent for recuperation to Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia. He returned to his Co. on May 21, 1865 from convalescent detachment. John G. Ellis received an Honorable discharge on July 11, 1865 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, by reason of war of the Rebellion ending.
July 11, 1865, John G. Ellis, Private, Company C, 2nd Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers and Honorably Discharged on June 11, 1865.
May 20, 1866, Abiathar’s letter is talking about the settlement of the Estate of, the Rev. Ebenezer Burt, their grandfather and the amount due brother John. That being a total of $28.75 an amount in the year 2008 not much. Abiathar does not want to send money due to the theft from mails but would send a check on National Bank a replaceable item if lost or stolen.
June 20, 1866, Abiathar’s letter is saying Susan Snow Ellis’s correct address is South Springfield, Vermont. He is going to Ware to get a check to send him.
December 25, 1866, this letter to John Gilmore Ellis is from his sister Susan Snow Ellis now in Windham, Vermont. She is complaining about the service of the post office and that Charles is going to Grafton and will put it in the office there. She is further complaining of not having received a letter in three years from him. She speaks of son Charles Towne Jr. and sister Lucy Jane Towne.
March 28, 1867, this letter from Abiathar to brother John telling about the scarcity, cost and change in things since the war began.
November 1, 1869, State of Vermont, Windham Co., notice of attachment of gods, chattels, etc.
January 16, 1870, Hardwick, Massachusetts, letter to John G. Ellis from brother Abiathar P. Ellis, explaining the year 1879 when so many of the children died. Abiathar weight down to 120 during this period. He further explained that sister Susan lived in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. That she had incured Cancer of the Womb that was operated on. He found out that Susan’s son Charlie Jr., had lost his right arm in a planing machine.
April 1, 1873, The United States of America, Homestead Certificate No. 1076, Application 1801, General Land Office of the United States, at St. Cloud, Minnesota, the Claim of John G. Ellis, signed April 1, 1873. This may be our John G. Ellis but needs some form of verification.
July 3, 1893, John G. Ellis, State of Minnesota, Becker Co., In Probate Court, In the Matter of the Estate of John G. Ellis, Deceased. Showing heirs of deceased as Erie Elsie Ellis age 14 years and Lelia Ethel Ellis age 12 years.
Sepember 15, 1894, Invalid Pension.
September 15, 1894, Pension Agency.
July 1, 1905. In Probate Court, County of Becker, State of Minnesota, in the matter of the Estate of John G. Ellis, Deceased.. Proof of Death and Heirship. On this 1st day of July A.D. 1905 personally appeared befoe me, a Judge of Probate in and for the County of Becker State of Minnesota duly authorized to administer oaths George G. Ellis aged 24 years, a resident of the City of Detroit, in the County of Becker and State of Minnesota who, being by me duly sworn, says; That he was well and intimately acquainted with John G Ellis that affiant’s relationship to the said John G. Ellis is that of a son. That said John G. Ellis died at the Town of Lake Eunice in the County of Becker and State of Minnesota on the 29th day of June 1893 intestate.
July 1, 1905, Proof of Death and Heirship, State of Minnesota, In Probate Court, in the matter of estate of John G. Ellis, deceased. That George G. Ellis, duly authorized to administer oaths, age 24 years, a resident of the City of Detroit, in the County of Becker, Minnesota. The only heirs as listed are Mary E. Ellis, 38, Widow, now dead, Erie E. Ellis age 26, daughter, Detr oit City, Minneasota., Lelia E. Ellis, age 28, daughter, Clinton, Massachusetts, George G. Ellis, age 24, son, Detroit City, Minnesota. It further states that Mary E. Ellis died at Los Benos, California on the 22nd day of July 1804.
November 12, 1906, In Probate Court, County of Becker, State of Minnesota, In the matter of The Estate of John G. Ellis. Here you have the names of Mary E. Ellis, Erie E. Ellis (now Gridley), Lelia E. Ellis and George G. Ellis.
November 12, 1906, Final Decree, State of Minnesota, County of Becker, In Probate Court, in the Estate of John G. Ellis deceased.
January 11, 1984, letter from John E. Blom, 925 Willow Lane, Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744.
January 16, 1984, letter to John E. Blom.
January 20, 1984, letter from John E. Blom.
February 5, 1984, letter to John E. Blom.
March 7, 1984, letter to John E. Blom.
May 22, 2008, Henry Charles Ellis, born in Minnesota previously indicated as a son of John Gilmore Ellis has been left as UNNAMED due to difficulty in estab- lishing any positive connection to this family. What you see here is all that is presently known.