Alexander Boggs Martin ELLIS

ALEXANDER B. M. ELLIS<br>Alexander B. M. Ellis of Missouri Valley, came to Harrison County inthe autumn of 1854 and settled in Jackson Township, remained twoyearsand then moved to Little Sioux Towhship where he purchased afarm, remaining until 1870, when he moved to Morgan Township, livedfour yearsand returned to Little Sioux Township, where he remaineduntil he moved to Missouri Valley in 1881, atthe same time disposingof his farm property.<br>Mr. Ellis is a native of the Buckeye State and was born October 12,1833 in Brown County, Ohio. He is a son ofJohn and Hannah MartinEllis. His mother was born in Kentucky and removed to Ohiowhen quiteyoung. The father was born in Ohio and died in 1849. The mother diedin May 1891. They reared a family of ten sons and three daughters, ofwhomour subjectwas the seventh child and of this number, eight areliving; one brother in Omahaand the remainder in this county. Onesister is the wife of James Cooper of Little Sioux Township and theolder sister is Mrs. M. Murray of Little Sioux. Thefather was afarmer by occupation and, as a matter of family record, it should hereberecorded that the father is buried in Brown County, Ohio and thatthe motherwas86 years, 6 months and 20 days of age at the time of herdeath and was buriedin Soldier Valley Cemetery, while the father was49 years ofage at the time of his death.<br>Our subjects education was received in the common schools of Ohio.In1851, one of his brothers came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa and, twoyears later, was followed by another. Our subject came to HarrisonCounty and August 18,1862, inthe dark days of the Rebellion, whenthe sisterhood of states was in jeopardy, our subject enlisted inCompany C, 29th Iowa Infantry, was mustered out August 10,1865 anddischarged fifteen days later at Davenport, Iowa. He was in theSouthwestern Division and later in the Gulf Division of the UnionArmy. He took part in the battles of Spanish Fort, Ft. Blakely andSaline River. Afterthe closeof the war, he returned to Iowa, followedfarming and worked at the carpenters trade.<br>He was married May 20, 1858 to Lois A. Pratt at Magnolia, Iowa. Shewas anative ofVermont and came to this county with her brother intheautumn of 1856.Her brother still resides in Little Sioux Township.Her sister was married to S.J. Smith, now deceased. They came to thecounty in 1854. Our subject and his wife are the parents of fourchildren; Flora, born August 21, 1859; Elmer M., born March 18, 1862and died February 18, 1864; Mortie S., born September 28, 1866; andArthur, b. August 7, 1875.<br>Politically, Mr. Ellis is an all the year around Republican. He is amember of the Grand Army of the Republic, Belden Post No. 59 atMissouri Valley, while he and his estimable wife are both members ofthe Methodist EpiscopalChurch and bear the respect of the communityin whichthey live.<br><br>HarrisonCounty History pp. 565-6 published 1891

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