Biographical Sketch of Col. Nathaniel M. ELLIS (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 247-8. "COL. NATHANIEL M. ELLIS, a soldier and financier, was born at Pottstown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1821. His parents were Christopher and Margaret (Missimer) Ellis, the former of English and the latter of German descent. Christopher Ellis was one of the early settlers of Montgomery county, this State, a shoemaker by trade, and lived at Pottstown. He was a democrat in politics, and served in the war of 1812. He died about 1850, aged sixty-four years, and his wife passed away in 1824, in the thirty-second year of her age. The subject of this sketch, Col. Nathaniel M. Ellis, received his early education in the public schools of Pottstown, and completed his studies under private tuition in the city of Philadelphia. At the early age of twelve and a half years he entered the service of the Reading Railroad Company, in the location, and was first employed in taking cross sections of the road. When it was completed from Pottstown to Norristown he was placed in temporary charge of the station at Phoenixville. He soon afterward left the employ of the company and resumed his studies in Philadelphia, where he remained for one year engaged in perfecting his education. In 1838 he returned to active service on the road, and Phoenixville having become an important point he was appointed general agent of the company at this place, having charge of all the various departments. He continued in the satisfactory discharge of the multitudinous duties connected with this responsible position until 1873, when he was compelled to resign on account of his health. "In 1842 Mr. Ellis was elected and commissioned as major of volunteers, and appointed in 1860 aide-de-camp to Governor Packer during his term of office. He has held many offices of public trust and honor, among them burgess of Phoenixville, president of the town council, borough engineer, and president of the school board, of which latter he was a member for many years, having always taken a profound interest in the great cause of popular education. In his political affiliations he has always been demo- cratic, and was an active supporter of Judge Douglas in his contest for the presidency in 1860. At the breaking out of the civil war he took an active part in politics, deeming it his duty to at once openly espouse the cause his conscience held to be right. He was prominent in the organiza- tion of the Phoenixville National bank, and was one of its directors for a number of years, and also served as a director of the Morris Cemetery Com- pany, which he helped to organize. In addition to these he was also a director in the Masonic Hall association of Phoenixville. As a business man he was noted, during an active career extending from 1835 to 1872, for stability of purpose and strict integrity in all his dealings. In reli- gious belief he is a Baptist, and is a prominent member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons. He has about retired from active busi- ness, and resides in a beautiful home, which he erected in 1844, at the corner of Main and Morgan streets. During all his life he has been known for the firmness of his friendships, and is among the most highly esteemed citizens of Phoenixville and Chester county. "In February, 1842, Colonel Ellis was united in marriage with Mary Morgan, a daughter of Hon. John Morgan, of Phoenixville, who was a prominent man in his day. To the Colonel and Mrs. Ellis was born a family of three children, one son and two daughters: Mordicai, who is now chief clerk in the office of the Phoenixville Bridge Company; Mary, who married Dr. William T. Porter, of this borough; and Sallie, living at home with her parents."