From 1848 until 1861 Martin E. Ellis and his partner, Festus Saudy, operated a tavern in Berlin, Ohio. He was mustered into Federal Service 4 Sept 1862 as a quartermaster sergeant, Company B, 3rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. He participated in the Battle of Shilo, near Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee in April 1862. He was released from active military service 11 September 1862 because of physical disability. After the war he was a partner in the ELLIS-HOLMES barrel factory in Wakeman, Ohio where they manufactured barrels for John D. Rockerfeller in the early days of the Standard Oil Company. On the morning of 28 December 1871 a boiler explosion killed four workmen and injured several others. Resulting legal action forced him to dispose of his Ohio property and move to Traverse City, Michigan. There he operated a thriving wholesale liquor business. In addition to their city property, he and Odelia purchased four large farms in the area. All of their Traverse City property was in Odelia's name - O. H. Ellis. A fire in November 1896 destroyed all of their business property and Martin never recovered from this loss. With this disaster he lost all of his business property and all of the farms except one small one on the Old Mission Peninsula where he and Odelia lived until he passed away in 1901. After Martin's death Odelia lived in Traverse City with her son, Elbert Orlando, until her death 11 March 1911. Martin and Odelia are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City.



Source: [Norma Hemenway Phillips; James M. Overhuls; Col. Harry H. Ellis]