Roger Ellis Mystery

Thomas Marion Elless, who has followed agricultural pursuits all his life and is now operating a large farm in Garfield township, is a native of Brown township. Ripley county, Indiana, born March 22, 1837, and a son of James and Matilda (Harns) Elless. natives of Kentucky, who located in Indiana in 1800 when that country was in a primitive condition and inhabited by Indians. ‘When a young man his great-grandfather on the paternal side left Ireland with a companion and succeeded in being secreted in the hold of a ship bound for America. In this manner he made his way to the new world, where he became a soldier in the Revolutionary war. after which he removed to Pennsylvania and thence to Kentucky, becoming a pioneer in both states. He is the founder of the family in this country. His given name is unknown, all family records having been lost.

The grandfather of Thomas M. Elless was a resident of Kentucky and at the time he located it settlers were permitted to select their own tracts of land, mark them out to suit their own convenience and upon returning their field notes to the government authorities they secured the title to the property. This was a very illy devised method, as people made little provision for roads and consequently else thoroughfares were few and narrow and ran in every- direction. Its his family were James, John, William, Wesley, Nancy, Polly, Becka and Susanna. James Elless, the only survivor, removed with his family from Indiana to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1853 and two years later went to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he departed this life in his eighty-third year.  His wife passed away in 1865 in her sixty-fourth year, while on a visit to the place where she was married. Her ancestors were of English and Welsh descent, while her husband on the authority of his father was of English, Irish, Welsh and Dutch extraction.

The district schools afforded Thomas Marion Elless his education and in his twentieth year he left his father’s farm and started out its the world for himself, spending two years in Kentucky and Indiana. Its 1888 he settled in Garfield township, Clay county., Iowa, the place being then known as Herdland township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 35, for which he gave eight dollars an acre and with the exception of a little over a year, which gave eight dollars an acre and with the exception of a little over a year, which he spent in the town of Marathon, he has since resided on this fasts where he has been engaged in producing general crops. also giving some attention to live stock. Here he has lived to see his family grow up around him and all comfortably settled in life and. having worked hard throughout his career, always evincing a high degree of industry and enterprise, together with good management and economy,he is now planning to give up active life and retire to the town of ‘Marathon to spend his declining years in retirement.

On October 30, 1862, Mr. Elless was united in marriage to Mary Catherine Cole. daughter of Abner and Mahala (Oneal) Cole, natives of Kentucky. who at an early day went to Indiana, where her father passed away in 1884 and her mother seventeen days later.  In her mother’s family were many children, all of whom are now deceased. while the members of her father’s family have also long since entered into rest. To this union have been born: Mahala is the wife of A. E. Wright, and they live in Payette. Idaho. with their children: Emery Leonard, Verne, Glenn and Bessie.  Matilda is the wife of John Fishbaugher, a resident of Fillmore county, Minnesota, and they have four children: George, Franklin, Glenn and Lee, all of whom reside with their parents.  Elzora is the wife of George Delaney and they reside in Garfield township with their two children. Owen and John. Edward married Daisy Murray and resides in this county.  Frances wedded J. R. Cross and they are living in Dewey county, Oklahoma.

In politics Mr. Elless is usually its accord with democratic principles and sates for the state and national candidates of the party, but at local elections casts an independent ballot, supporting the men who. in his opinion, are best qualified for the offices they seek.  His own public service has been commendable. fie was for five years a member of the school board and has ever been a stalwart champion of the cause of public education.  For six years he served as justice of the peace and it is to his credit that during his incumbency in that office he never tried a lawsuit.  Not because none were brought before him. but by reason of the fact that he always succeeded in bringing the contesting parties to a mutual agreement. He has been a member of the Baptist church since he was twenty-one years of age and is a zealous and faithful Christian.  His life has ever been upright and honorable and in his record there are many qualities worthy of emulation.  He has now passed the seventy-second milestone on life’s journey and his activity and enterprise in former years well entitle him to rest throughout his remaining days.  He has not only by capable management and unfaltering industry won for himself a handsome competence but through his agricultural interests has promoted the general prosperity of the county.

(Text available from archive.org and books.google.com)

Analysis

History of Clay County, Iowa From Its Earliest Settlement to 1909 by Samuel Gillespie and James E. Steele was published in 1909 and included a biography of Thomas Marion Elless, who was the son of James Lewis Elless and grandson of Roger Ellis.

This biography begs more questions than it answers about the history of this family. It is truth intermixed with some inaccuracies? Is the story misleading on purpose because this branch of the family wanted to distance itself from the rest?  Or, is it just ramblings of someone telling a good story?

“James, the only survivor” – At the time, he left Ripley, Indiana, his siblings were living.  Also, as the article states, he had passed by the time of the article.  So, why does this indicate that he was the sole survivor? What if the bio was a bit mixed up and instead of James not having any remaining siblings it was Roger or Thomas that had no siblings living at some point? We know Thomas’’s brothers died young although if research is correct he may have had a half-sister living.

“The grandfather” – Why was Roger not mentioned by name?  Thomas would have been old enough when they left Ripley, Indiana to remember his grandfather and the family had the family Bible so his name was recorded.

The list of siblings – Was David and Martha just overlooked or was were they left out for some reason?

Records lost – The article states that all the family records were lost.  Yet, it is known that James’ descendants had as of a few years ago, the family Bible.

The great-grandfather – The article provides a story about the paternal great-grandfather.  It is assumed that the article is referencing his grandfather’s (Rogers’) father. The mention of Pennsylvania is consistent with records showing that Roger was born in Pennsylvania.  However, it states that he was a stowaway and a Revolutionary Soldier.  Both of these are possible, but also suspect because of the other inaccuracies and the fact that his name was lost.  Families were very proud of their Revolutionary War soldiers and would likely have talked proudly about his service.  Not only did this article provide no details of his service, no stories about him being a Revolutionary War soldier were passed down in our branch of the family.

Heritage  – The article indicates the family is English, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch.