 OSES ELLISON has been for more than twenty years a prominent citizen of North Okaw Township, his fine estate containing 240 acres of well-improved land, being located on section 7. He was born Jan. 30, 1808, in Adams County, Ohio, and is the son of Robert and Rebecca (Lockhard) Ellison. Robert Ellison was born Jan. 28, 1770, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and in 1787 accompanied his parents to the United States. They left their native land, which has been for so many centuries the battle-ground of conflicting Governmental policies, to seek a home and heritage for their children in this land of freedom, where a welcome has ever been extended to all who come. Mr. Ellison landed at Philadelphia, and with his family made the journey to Pittsburgh by wagon. He there embarked on a float and went down the river to Maysville, Ky., and thence to Manchester, Ohio, where he made his permanent home. The early settlers of Ohio were greatly disturbed by the Indians at that time, and his brother Andrew was once captured by a band of fierce savages who spared his life, but sold him to a Frenchman for a quart of whisky. After a few months of captivity, he made his escape and returned home in safety.
Mr. Ellison had the advantage of a good common-school education, and possessed excellent business qualifications. He was for several years employed by a company of surveyors in Ohio, and subsequently became a large land-owner himself, having at one time over 1 ,000 acres. When he was about thirty years of ago his marriage to Miss Rebecca Lockhard took place, Oct. 11. 1802. Mrs. Ellison was born Sept. 7, 1781, near Philadelphia. After their marriage, they settled near Manchester, Ky., and passed the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Ellison died June 7, 1829, leaving her beloved husband under sad circumstances. He had shortly before received a stroke of paralysis, and was an invalid for about twelve years prior to his death, which occurred May 13, 1839. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows : Mary, born Feb. 20, 1804, became the wife of James Hood, and died May 9, 1 838, leaving three children; Margaret, born April 7, 1805, died at the age of eighty years; John, born Aug. 18, 1806, died at the age of seventy-one years; Moses, the subject of this sketch; Isabel, born Aug. 14, 1809, married James Hood, her deceased sister’s husband; Robert, born April 5, 1811, married Ann Work; Elizabeth, born Jan. 11, 1812, married Thomas Huston, and both are deceased; Catherine, born July 30, 1814, became the wife of Hanson Newell, and both are also deceased; Cyrus, born Aug. 24, 1816, was twice married; Thomas, born June 6, 1819, married Miss Mary A. Wilson, and both are deceased.
Moses Ellison passed his boyhood and youth on the homestead, and was about fifteen years of age when his father was stricken with paralysis. His educational advantages were very limited, he never having either the time or opportunity to attend school, but about fifteen months in his life. He lived on the homestead, taking charge of his father’s farm until he was about thirty years of age, when his marriage to Miss Mary A. Lockridge took place April 6, 1839. Mrs. Ellison was born April 16, 1809, in Adams County, Ohio, and was the daughter of William and Margaret (Anderson) Lockridge. Her parents were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States at an early day, making their home in Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Ellison was engaged for some time in farming in his native county, on property he inherited from his father. Desiring to move farther westward he disposed of his property there in the winter of 1863, and came to North Okaw Township. In the following spring he purchased 240 acres of improved land and forty acres of timber. He was active and enterprising in business, and on coming to his new home identified himself successfully with the interests of the community, by whom he is held in high esteem.
His family consisted of seven children: Robert, born Feb. 18, 1838, married Miss Ann Siberl, and resides in Nebraska; Margaret, deceased, born Oct. 20, 1839, was the wife of C. Mowery; Mary, born Aug. 19, 1841, is the wife of Hugh Cook, and resides in Missouri; William, born June 26, 1843, married Miss Mary Moore, and after her death married the second time; he resides in Kansas; Theodore, born Nov. 20, 1845, married Miss Jane Gallion, and resides in this county; Emma, born Feb. 28. 1848, is the wife of Madison Hunt; Cynthia, born June 20, 1852, is the wife of Samuel Jackson.
May 11, 1870, Mr. Ellison’s happy household was darkened by the death of his wife. With her husband she had been for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her daily life bore witness to the sincerity and earnestness of her Christian faith. She was beloved by a large circle of friends, and deeply mourned by her family and all who knew her. In politics, Mr. Ellison is a Republican, and has held several of the township offices, giving satisfaction to the people in the faithful discharge of his public duties.
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