Peter ELLIS

                   History of Boone County, Missouri, pp. 649-50 (Western Publ. Co., St. Louis  1882):   "John Ellis is the oldest son and second child of Peter and Eleanor (Patterson) Ellis.  He was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, December 10, 1805, and came with his parents to Boone County in 1818.  He was educated at the Bonne Femme Academy, completing his studies in 1828; was married March 17, 1831, to Catharine Doyle, oldest daughter of Dr. David Doyle.  He then moved to a farm adjoining his father's, where he lived until 1834.  In the fall of that year, he bought and moved to the farm he now occupies, consisting of 400 acres on the Two-Mile Prairie, five miles northeast of Ashland and twelve miles southeast of Columbia.  He had two sons and three daughters, of whom but one is now living-- Mrs. Field, of Denver, Colorado.  In 1860 his son, William P., then in his twenty-seventh year, was burned to death in his store at Providence.  He was a graduate of the University, and a young man of bright promise, and his horrible death was universally lamented.  In 1837-38 Mr. Ellis commanded a company under Col. Richard Gentry, in the Florida war.  The next year he was commissioned a colonel, and had command of a regiment under marching orders from Governor Boggs.  This was during the Mormon insurrection.  He was preparing to start with his regiment to the Mexican war, but was prevented by the illness of his wife, who died August 25, 1846.  He was one of the first curators of the University.  Of his colleagues, all are dead but one.  He served as public administrator for ten years; was justice of the peace from 1844 to 1878.  He now holds a commission as notary public.  Few men in Boone County have been more active in public affairs, or disposed of more business, and none perhaps have come nearer rendering general satisfaction."

1840 U.S. Census for Cedar Twp, Boone County, Missouri lists John Ellis; household includes one male u 5, one male 5 u 10, one male 30 u 40, one female u 5, and one female 20 u 30.

1850 U. S. Census for 8th District, Boone County, Missouri: age 44, occupation "Farmer," value of property: $4,000, born in Missouri; also included in household: son, William, age 18, farmer, born Missouri; daughter, Amanda, age 12, born Missouri.

1860 U.S. Census for Cedar Twp, Boone County, Missouri: age 52, occupation "farmer"; born in Missouri, real property valued at $6,000, personal property valued at $10,000; also in household is daughter, Amanda, age 21, born in MO.

1870 U.S. Census for Cedar Twp, Boone County, Missouri (Roll 760, Bk 1, p. 46a): age 64, occupation "farmer", real estate valued at $10,000, personal property valued at $3,000; born in Missouri; also in household are daughter, Amanda, age 32, born MO; granddaughter, Pattie, age 5, born CO; and grandson, John, age 3, born CO.

1880 U.S. Census for Cedar Twp, Boone County, Missouri: age 74, no occupation listed; born in Missouri, father born VA, mother born NC; also in household is sister in law, Elizabeth Doyle, age 56, keeping house, born in MO, both parents born in NC.