CROSS CO, AR - R. J. ELLIS - Bio

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Submitted by: Jason Presley <daclyde@usa.net>
        Date: 16 Sept 2009
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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     R. J. Ellis, one of the oldest settlers of Mitchell Township, and among
its leading farmers, is a native of Tennessee, and came to this county in 1856
with his father, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, remaining upon it
for three years.  The he accepted a position as overseer of a large plantation
owned by Jesse Cross, D. J. Burt and Maj. Wynne, a position that he held until
the breaking out of the war, when he joined the Confederate army, in Company C,
of the Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, and participated in the battles of Shiloh,
Corinth, Richmond, Murfreesboro and a number of others.  He was taken sick at
Murfreesboro and sent to the hospital, where he received his discharge and 
returned home.  He was also shot at teh battle of Belmont in the arm, by a
minie ball.  Mr. Ellis sold his farm in 1865, and moved to Shelby County,
Tenn., where he remained until 1871, engaged in farming one year, and the rest
of the time operating a saw and grist-mill.  In 1871 he returned to Cross
County, entered 103 acres unter the homestead laws, and now has sixty-one under
cultivation, with good buildings.  Born in Carroll County, Tenn., in 1833, he
is the son of William and Elizabeth (Allin) Ellis, natives of Norht Carolina
and Tennessee, respectively, and the parents of ten children.  William Ellis
moved to Arkansas in 1849, and located in this county, bought a farm of eighty
acres, partially improved, and remained until 1865, then returning to
Tennessee, where he died the following year; his wife survived him until 1886.
Both were members of the PResbyterian Church.  R. J. Ellis was married in 1856,
to Miss Sophia Burks, and they became the parents of five children, two of whom
are living: W. A. and Elizabeth (wife of John Stephens).  Mrs. Ellis died in
1873, and Mrs. Ellis married his second wife in 1875.  She was formerly Miss
Mollie Airs, and lived about four years after marriage.  In 1881 Mr. Ellis
married Mrs. Mary Robinson (nee Mitchell).  Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are members of
the Seven Day Baptist Church, his first and second wives having belonged to the
Missionary Baptist Church.  He is a member of the County Wheel and is a strong
Democrat, taking an active interest in teh politics of the day.