Cornelius Ellis grew up on his father's farm in Vermont and attended school in Colchester. In 1818 Cornelius and his cousin, Joseph Walker of Peacham Township, Orange County, Vermont walked from Vermont to Ohio. Cornelius and his brother Lyman were living in Eldridge, Ohio in 1820. Cornelius and Elizabeth (Walker) Ellis owned no land until 1832 when they purchased 83 acres in Florence, Ohio from the Wakeman and Bronson Company on 24 July 1832. The prospered until 1842 when they encountered serious difficulties. Cornelius and an associate borrowed money to enter business; the partner absconded with the money and Cornelius was obliged to repay it, losing the family farm in the process in 1844. In 1849 they purchased a second farm with money advanced by Elizabeth's father.

Cornelius and Elizabeth are buried in the old cemetery in Berlin Heights, Ohio.

Source: Norma Alice Hemenway; James M. Overhuls; Col. Harry H. Ellis.
See Col. Harry H. Ellis genealogy page 86 of his original work.