Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....EVES, Ellis 1834 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 6, 2005, 5:20 am Author: Biographical Publishing Co. ELLIS EVES, a member of the firm of Ellis Eves & Bro., manufacturers and dealers in lumber and shingles and all kinds of mill work, of Millville, is one of the substantial business men of Greenwood township, and is a scion of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Columbia County. He is a son of Charles and Sarah (Kester) Eves, and was born in Greenwood township, Columbia County, Pa., January 16, 1834. Our subject's great-grandfather was John Eves, who was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was born in Ireland in. 1720. After growing to maturity John engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods near Dublin, Ireland, at which he continued until he sought a home in America, first locating in Delaware and later in Bucks County, Pa. He resided in Bucks County for some time. In 1769 he purchased a tract of land consisting of 1,200 acres located at the forks of Fishing Creek, in Columbia County, and including the site of the village of Millville. Having never seen the land, in the following year he went to examine his new acquisition, first going to Milton, Northumberland County, where he made inquiry for Fishing Creek. None had ever heard of the place, but an Indian who heard him ask the question quickly volunteered the information and with another of his race offered to act as his guide. The three started for what was to be Mr. Eves' future home and finally arrived at Fairview, a high hill overlooking the valley in which his property lay. The Indian, pointing to the land below, informed him that it was the desired spot, but utterly refused to descend with Mr. Eves, who went alone and made a thorough examination of the soil, which proved entirely satisfactory. He spent some time below and upon returning to the top of the hill found the Indians in a high state of impatience over his long delay. Upon returning, the Indians suggested that one go ahead and the other follow Mr. Eves, but the latter, fearful of Indian treachery, compelled both to precede him, and they continued their journey. He returned to his home and prepared to move to his new tract of land with his family. In the spring of 1771 he went to Fishing Creek with some of his sons and they effected a clearing and erected some buildings, after which he again went to Bucks County, and in the spring of 1872 started with his family for their new home. By means of a wagon drawn by four horses, in which was packed only such goods and furniture as were absolutely necessary, they made their way overland with much difficulty. They arrived safely within a few miles of their destination, when night overtook them, rendering it impossible to find the roads. The mother, with her young children, rode the horses to a cabin which was located at a spring, one-fourth of a mile northwest of the present village of Millville, on the estate now owned by David and William Masters. There they located and entered upon the duties of pioneer life, having for neighbors only the beasts of the forest, and the Indians, with whom they were very friendly and who always respected Mr. Eves. No white inhabitants resided nearer than fifteen miles, which was also the distance to the nearest grist-mill, which was located at Catawissa. There the great-grandfather of our subject remained at peace with the world and engaged in the laborious task of clearing up his farm. He and his family had no trouble with the Indians, excepting when his son Thomas was shot by an Indian spy, having been mistaken for another man. The Indians were often guests at his home, and one particularly, who frequently stopped with him when making long trips through the country, promised to warn him if there ever was an uprising among the tribes so that he might seek safety in flight. True to his promise, on the night of the Wyoming massacre, the friendly red man walked forty miles to warn his white friends of their danger, giving his warning in the expressive language, "Go quick, bad man among the Indians!" By noon of the following day the family were on their journey, reaching Washingtonville, Montour County, that night. There they stopped long enough for the worthy and kind-hearted wife to care for a woman who had been severely wounded by a shot from an Indian's gun. They then returned to Bucks County, where they remained until 1785, when the rebellious spirit of the red men had been quelled. Then, deeming it safe to return to their home in Columbia County, they again set out, taking cattle and hogs with them. One pig was caught by a bear and frightened the others and they broke loose and, with the instinct true to animals, returned to their former home. Mr. Eves found his home and outbuildings burned and immediately set about to rebuild them. He also built and operated a saw-mill, and in 1790 built the first gristmill in that section of the county. He was a member of the Society of Friends and was the first of that sturdy old Quaker body to locate in that neighborhood, and to him and his descendants is due much of the credit for the present standing of Greenwood township, with its fine farming land. He was united in marriage to Edith Yelman, and their union resulted in the following offspring: Sarah; Thomas; John; Joseph; Martha; William; Chandler; Eliza; Sarah; Edith; Andrew; Mary; Priscilla; Mark; Anna; Samuel; and Elizabeth. Mr. Eves was called to his eternal rest in 1802, after a long and useful life, and his worthy wife survived him sixteen years, dying in 1818. Chandler Eves, the grandfather of our subject, probably was born in Bucks County in 1762, and moved to Greenwood township, Columbia County, with his parents. He was extensively engaged in farming on a portion of the old homestead, where he built and for a number of years operated what is now the Shultz grist-mill, located near Rohrsburg, Greenwood township. Later he built a woolen mill, the first in that section of the state, located about one-half mile from Millville, which is now known as the Millville Worsted & Woolen Mill, and he successfully operated it for several years. Where John Eves's wagon factory now stands he also erected a sawmill and clover-mill, which he conducted until his death, in 1836. He was a man of excellent judgment and good business qualities and was one of the most prosperous men in Greenwood township. He married Rachel Kester, and reared a family of four sons and two daughters, namely: Annie; John K.; George F.; Benjamin; Charles; and Rachel. Charles Eves, the father of our subject, was born on his father's homestead and early in life turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Later he operated the saw-mill which was built by his father, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, wagons and wagon-material until his death, which occurred in 1854, at the age of forty-five years. He formed a marital union with Sarah Kester, a daughter of Aaron Kester, late a farmer of Mount Pleasant township, and they became the happy parents of five sons and one daughter, whose names are here recorded: Ellis, in whom the interest of this sketch centers; Rachel, the wife of Edwin John of Millville; Chandler, who follows the occupation of a farmer and is an insurance agent of Greenwood township; John, an extensive wagon manufacturer and lumberman of Millville; William Webster, who is in partnership with our subject; and James Barton, who is a dealer in hardware and agricultural implements. Ellis Eves obtained a good education in the public schools and in the Greenwood Seminary of Millville, and was reared upon the farm. In 1856 he succeeded his father as owner of the wagon manufacturing establishment and later sold an interest to his brother, John, and subsequently two of his other brothers, William Webster and James Barton, became members of the firm They also embarked in the mercantile and lumber trade and conducted the business successfully for several years, when John withdrew to take entire charge of the wagon factory, and James Barton became a dealer in farming implements. Since 1870 the firm name has been Ellis Eves & Bro., and they have a large patronage in the mercantile business and also deal extensively in lumbering and planing-mill work. They have always resided in the vicinity of Millville and have sustained the reputation for strict integrity and honesty, established by their ancestors. Our subject always has been interested in the advancement of the interests of the village and has been closely connected with many leading enterprises. He is a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Watsontown; a director of the Bloomsburg Water Company; is a life member of the Columbia County Agricultural Society, of which he has been president for several years; has been secretary of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Millville since its organization; is a member of the board of trustees of the Greenwood Seminary Company, having served as such trustee continuously for over thirty years, having always been active in his endeavors to sustain and promote the best interests of that institution. In 1860 our subject was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Masters, a daughter of the late George Masters of Millville, by whom he has four children: Charles Millard, who clerks for his father; Lois Melvina, deceased, who was the wife of H. J. Demott; Paschal Lewis, also a clerk for the firm of which our subject is a member; and Georgianna, wife of Samuel Demott. Margaret, his wife, died in 1870, and in 1880 Mr. Eves married Elizabeth Eves, daughter of David and Sarah Eves. Politically Mr. Eves is an unswerving Republican. He has served several terms as a member of the borough council. He is a member of Washington Lodge No. 265, F. & A. M., of Bloomsburg; and a charter member and past grand of Millville Lodge No. 809, I. O. O. F. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/pafiles/ File size: 10.4 Kb