WILLIAM H. ELLENWOOD

ELLENWOOD

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/23/2020 at 14:37:32

WILLIAM H. ELLENWOOD, one of the prominent farmers of Washington township, section 29, Eureka postoffice, was born in Henry county, Illinois, May 20, 1840. His parents were Morris and Susannah (White) Ellenwood, both natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer; was hackdriver and mail carrier after coming to Illinois, owing to the loss of an arm. He came to Illinois from Washington county, Ohio, about the year 1838, and settled on a farm in Henry county. He died in Henry county, Illinois. His wife is still living with general health fairly good. She is still an honored resident of Henry county, Illinois, is well known and highly respected as an old settler. Her father, Rev. William White, was a minister of good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject began assisting in the support of the family at about the age of fourteen years. Agriculture has been his business all his life. He farmed in Henry county, Illinois, until 1870, when he moved to Adams county, locating on the farm where he now resides; it was then raw prairie. He bought 120 acres of ridge land. His house, 16 x 26 feet, one and a half stories high, is located on the road leading from Carbon to Mount Etna. He has a nice location, commanding a view of the surrounding country. He has an orchard of three acres and raises small fruit as well. The farm is adapted well for a stock farm, being well watered.

Mr. Ellenwood was married in 1863, to Virginia Cole, daughter of Asa and Rebecca Cole, of Washington county, Ohio, now of Henry county, Illinois. The father was a very thorough farmer, well and favorably known as an honest and upright citizen. He is still living, an honored resident of Henry county, Illinois. His wife died April 17, 1891, at the age of sixty-six years.

Mrs. Ellenwood is the oldest in a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Ellenwood are the parents of sixteen children, three of whom died in infancy. The others are, Edward J., married to Emma Anderson; Ard, deceased at the age of twenty-three years; he went West and took possession of a claim in Banner county, Nebraska; he made a visit home and on his return to his claim he took sick and died June 21, 1889; Elmer, married to Ida Powell; Majesta, wife of John Powell; Maud, wife of A. B. Schofield; Lucy R., wife of Rodman Hathaway; Virginia, William S., Bennett G., Olive L., Martha B., Leonard and Lillie B. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics our subject is a Republican; he is also a member of the Farmers's Alliance. He is a highly esteemed and valued citizen.