James Ellis Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1000


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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REV. JAMES ELLIS. This venerable and estimable clergyman was born in 
Devonshire, England, August 28, 1818, and there had training as a 
farmer's boy, and remained in England until he was thirty years of age 
at which time he came to America with his wife and settled in Oakland 
County, Mich., where he worked out by the month for some time. Later he 
came to Flint where he was in the employ of H. M. Henderson for several 
months, and then bought a small farm in Flint Township, which he 
improved and cultivated and resided upon for seven years. He then 
exchanged that property for a part of that where he now lives in Mundy 
Township and settled upon this farm, where he has since resided. Upon 
his two hundred and eighty acres he has excellent improvements.

   Sarah Pound was the maiden name of her who became the wife of our 
subject in Devonshire, England; she is a native of that shire and after 
coming to this country became the mother of two children, one of whom 
died in infancy and the other, Mary, became the wife of Myron Chapel, 
and died in Mundy Township, leaving one child, Willard E. Mr. Ellis has 
served his townsmen as Highway Commissioner and has held various school 
offices. Local political affairs have interested him and he has been 
active in the support of the Prohibition cause although loyal to the 
principles of the Republican party.

   The Methodist Episcopal Church is the religious body with which this 
truly good man has been identified from boyhood, having been a member 
of it and a local preacher in its service for about fifty years. While 
living in England he worked six days in the week and on Sunday he 
walked twenty miles to preach and never received any money as a salary. 
His preaching of the gospel has been blessed to the spiritual benefit 
of the people among whom he has labored and he is ever ready to spend 
and be spent in the service of the Master. He has preached for a long 
time in the vicinity where he now lives and is most useful in this 
work. Before coming to America his connection was with the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church but he is now a member of the Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal denomination. This worthy member of society and 
laborer for the good of the community met with a severe bereavement in 
the death of his wife, May 14, 1883, but he bears his affliction with 
true Christian fortitude and devotes himself even more faithfully to 
the good of others.




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