Biography of Rufus J. Ellis - Conway Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 66

Rufus J. Ellis, a planter and merchant at Ada, is a native of Pulaski County,
where he was born January 11, 1850. He is a son of William G. and Mary
(Baskings) Ellis. Father was a native of Virginia where he was born November 6,
1803; mother a native of Tennessee, and born March 28, 1815; they were married
in Conway County, Ark., July 5, 1839, and were the parents of fourteen children,
eight sons and six daughters, of whom five are now living: Rufus, the subject of
this sketch, William B., David E., Eliza J. and Lucinda. Father was a soldier in
the Mexican war, and both parents were members of the Baptist Church. Our
subject received a common school and business education, and at his majority
began life by farming on his own land; he was married September 10, 1871, to
Miss Mary Crowder, a daughter of Albert S. and Sarah J. (Campbell) Crowder. Mr.
Ellis was a native of Randolph County; was born September 15, 1854. They are now
the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters, named in order of
birth, William A., Thomas J., Sarah L., Anna T., Cora M. and Eliza E., and Cora
(deceased). Mr. Ellis began merchandising at Ada, in 1886; he carries a good
stock of general goods, and has built up a good trade. He was appointed
Postmaster of Ada, May 22, 1889. He also owns a good farm of 120 acres, with
fifty under cultivation. The family are members of the M. E. Church, and
politically Mr. Ellis is a Republican.