Rewell J. Ellis, a well-known Grand Army man and a prominent farmer of Cornish, was born at Brandon, Vt., September 5, 1840, son of Seneca and Aurilla (Bagley) Ellis. His grandfather was John Ellis, who married Margaret Holt, and was the father of Seneca and William Ellis. William, who was born at Shoreham, Vt., went West a number of years ago, and has not since been heard from. The family do not know whether he is living or not.
Seneca Ellis was born at sea, July 26, 1809. He was educated in the schools at Brandon, Vt., and subsequently followed the occupation of farmer in Vermont and New Hampshire. The last thirty years of his life were spent in Cornish. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and afterward was in action at New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and in Florida. Although his term of enlistment was but nine months, he remained in the service for nearly a year. He August, 1863, suffering from a mortal illness contracted in the war. The desire of seeing home faces appears to have kept him alive until it was gratified. He died a few days later, having given his life for his country as surely as if he had been shot down on the battlefield. His wife was Aurilla, daughter of Curtis and Phylinda (Downing) Bagley; and their eleven children were: William H., Julia, Annie M., Joel C., Newell J., Jason, George, Orrilla N., Louisa J., Frank P., and Emmeline. William H., a native of Brandon, born in January, 1832, married Harriet Ellison, of Rockingham, Vt., and resides in that place engaged in farming. He has had two children, one of whom is living. Julia A., born in Canton, N.Y., August 29, 1834, first married Charles Sweatt, of Andover, N.H., by whom she had two children, of whom Annie is living. Her second husband is George D. Clapp, of Revere, Mass., a blacksmith. Annie M. Ellis, born in Canada, April 9, 1836, lives in Enfield, N.H., and has been a very successful school teacher. Joel, born in Canton, N.Y., July 29, 1837, served with a Massachusetts regiment in the late war, and was killed at the battle of Antietam. Jason, born February 17, 1842, at Brandon, who also served in the war, was drowned while making the voyage from New Orleans to New York with three hundred or more sick soldiers coming home for a furlough upon a condemned transport boat. George, born at Brandon, May 18, 1846, married Waity W. Ford, of Adams, Mass., and has one child, Etta. He was also in the war, and afterward was engaged in farming. His death occurred December 26, 1878. Orrilla N., born at Enfield, this State, October 27, 1848, first married Chester Langworthy, of Adams, Mass., by whom she had one daughter, Sadie, who is now deceased. She is now living with her second husband, William D. Spaulding, formerly of Claremont, now of Cornish, where he has a large farm. Louisa, born at Enfield, March 24, 1850, was also twice married. Her first husband was Henry Marcy, of Rockingham, Vt.; and the second was Edwin S. Newhall, of Lynn, Mass. She has no children. Frank, born at Enfield, March 22, 1854, lives at the farm in Cornish with his mother. Emmeline, born in Cornish, January 29, 1857, has been three times married. Her first husband was Frank Pope, and she bore him three children; her second husband was Samuel Fairbanks, by whom she had one child; her present husband is Thomas Emery, of Cornish. Mrs. Seneca Ellis, who was born July 25, 1811, after the death of her first husband married Samuel Chase, and is now living in Cornish.
Newell J. Ellis was educated in the schools of Cornish. Since leaving school he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, with the exception of a year spent in the Civil War. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont Regiment, and subsequently took part in the battle of Mobile. Mr. Ellis has served for some time on the School Committee. He has been Highway Surveyor and has acted in other public capacities. The first of his two marriages was contracted with Sarah M. Boardman, of Cornish, who died January 10, 1892. Her three children were: Martha, Charles, and Mabel. By the second marriage he was united to Adeline Hunt, daughter of Dr. Hunt, of Bolton. Martha Ellis, born in April, 1868, married Daniel Johnston, of Franklin, Mass., where he is employed in the manufacture of hats. Charles B., born March 5, 1872, is living at Franklin, Mass., and is a pressman in the hat business. Mabel, born August 26, 1883, is still a school girl and lives at home.
Mr. Ellis has owned at different times two Mr. Ellis is a Democrat. He is a member of the Grand Army, and belongs to the local grange.