Ellery was well-to-do and influential and helped his children to bethe s ame. He was a farmer/stockman, raising shorthorn cattle,Berkshire hogs , and sheep.
He was a Baptist but attended the Presbyterian church due to the lacko f Baptist churches in the area. He supported the Prohibition Partyand h eld several local public offices.
Residences and events in his life:
1823-1826 Sangamon Co, Springfield, IL
1826-1842/49 Scott Co, near Naples, IL. After his marriage, hebought 4 0 acres of wild land which is now located within the citylimits of Blu ffs.
10/16/1850 Oxoille, Scott Co, IL. The census taker counted thefamily t here with Ellery and Nancy were both being 27 years old andthe childre n were: George W, 7; Ira, 6; John A, 5; Mary E, 2; andSarah G, 1. Li ving with them was 19 year old George Colute Merris,born in OK. Eller y's property = $2000 and his occupation wascarpenter.
1851 Logan Co, IL. Apparently they moved with the Smallwood family,N ancy's sister.
1854-1857 Griggsville, Pike Co, IL. He bought 100 acres 1 mi W oftow n for $45, sold it 3 yrs later for a profit of $60.
1857 Lake Fork, Logan Co, IL, where he bought a farm.
7/28/1860 Lincoln Pct, Logan Co, IL. In the census, he was listed asE W , a farmer with only $300 in personal property. Possibly he hadsold o ut in preparation to moving back to Macon Co. At that time hewas 35 y ears old, as was Nancy. Their children were Geo W, 17, Ace,16, John A , 14, Mary G, 11, Sarah I, 9, Martha, 7, Julia, 5, andDouglas, 3 mo.
1865 S Macon Twp, Macon Co, IL. A list of county patrons said hesettl ed there that year, buying 80 acres.
1868 Macon Co, IL, near Findley Creek, 5 mi E of town. Ellery bought1 20 acres, built a house and "highly cultivated" the land. He latertra ded it with his son for 160 acres in Milam Twp.
1870 Milam Twp, Macon Co, IL. He bought a 2nd farm and lived thereawh ile, selling it in 1902. He still owned the 160 acres acquiredin the t rade, renting that property out in 1903 for income. He alsoowned 40 a cres in sect 31 and 80 acres in sect 32.
1880 Same place. The census taker recorded the family of "EllervyMor ris" a few doors down from Nancy's brother, John Van Gundy. Thefamily i ncluded Ellery at 57, Nancy at 58 and the children: Julia,22; Daniel, 2 0; and Ida May, 16.
1887 Macon, Macon Co, IL. Ellery owned 3 lots in town, one with ahous e which he remodeled and enlarged for his private residence.
6/1/1900 South Macon, Macon Co, IL. That census listed both Elleryan d Nancy at age 77. They had been married for 58 years, producing15 ch ildren but only 8 still survived. The couple lived alone andEllery's o ccupation was landlord.
His tombstone says he was born 6/29/1822.
Decatur Herald, 2 Mar 1906:
MERRIS, Ellery M.
E.M. Merris was born in Sangamon Co., Ill in 1823. With his parents hem oved when quite young to Scott County where he spent his boyhood andyo ung manhood days. In 1842 he was married to Miss Nancy VanGundy andthe y lived together almost sixty-four years. There was born to them alarg e family, eight of whom are living. They are Asa and John Merris,Mrs. J ohn Armstrong of Macon, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Combs of Findlay,Mrs. Rens haw of Henry, Okla and Mrs. McCool of Pattensburg, MO. In1865 they mov ed to Macon county where he has lived since. Mr. Merrisdied Monday nig ht February 26 about midnight. His death was theresult of a paralytic s troke.
He had 8 living children, 55 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildrena t that time.
Another obit said he was "always prominent in the community in whichhe l ived. He was a man of sturdy character and with the courage ofhis con victions. He served as assessor, tax collector, schooldirector for ma ny years and was also alderman in Macon for sevenyears. He was widely k nown and noted for his honesty, integrity, andstraight dealing."
The gravestone has his death date as 2/27/1907.
His funeral was held the day after his death at 2 PM in thePresbyteria n church with the Rev. F P DeBolt officiating, assisted byRev M N Engl ish.
