William Ellsworth

    William Ellsworth, one of the old and honored pioneers of Blackford County, was born in New Paltz, Ulster County, New York, 16 March 1813, his parents being Samuel and Betsy (Sperry) Ellsworth. The father was born, reared and married in the State of New York. In 1829 he removed to Ohio, and in 1839 or 1849, he came to Indiana, and a year or two later settled in Michigan, where he lived until his death, his wife also dying in that State.

    William Ellsworth was reared until his sixteenth year in New York State, and in 1829 accompanied his parents to Ohio. He was married in Ohio, 12 February 1836, to Miss Betsy Platt, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Parrott) Platt. Her mother died in Ohio. Her father, subsequently came to Blackford County, Indiana, where he lived until a short time previous to his death. He left Blackford County for Michigan, and died in that State. The year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth removed to Blackford County, where he entered 120 acres of land in Harrison Township. He also bought a lot in Montpelier on which he erected a house, this being about the fourth house erected in the place.

    On coming to the county he was variously employed, part of the time working at the carpenter's trade, and worked on the first mill built on the Salamonie River in the neighborhood of Montpelier. He resided at Montpelier about three years, then bought eighty-six acres of his present farm, which was then right in the woods. After making a small clearing he put up a little round log cabin. Game of all kinds was abundant, but he was not much of a hunter, preferring to devote his time to his farm, clearing and improving his land. Wild animals were also quite numerous, and the howling of the wolves was frequently heard. One night our subject met two wolves in the path near his house which he mistook for dogs.

    At that early day Hartford City contained but one log cabin, in which court was held, and the jury held their sessions in a hazel thicket nearby. By hard work and persevering energy Mr. Ellsworth has cleared and put under cultivation all his land with the exception of fifteen acres. He never hired a day's work on his land, and most of the improvements on the place were done by himself before his sons were old enough to help him.

    He has been identified with Blackford County for over half a century, and has always taken an active interest in its welfare. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth have been members of the Baptist Church forty-seven years, and for several years he has been a deacon in his church. He  has affiliated with the Republican party since its organization.

    They are the parents of three children -Matilda J., Samuel and William D. Their only daughter is a member of the Baptist Church. She married Amos Hunter, who is now deceased, his death occurring 26 November 1879, and to this union were born four children -Rosa Lee, wife of John Poulson; George C., Calvin F. and Charles. The eldest son, Samuel, is a minister of the Christian Church at Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa. William D. is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a graduate of the Commercial College at Madison, Wisconsin. After his graduation he taught in the Commercial College at Des Moines two or three years, becoming one of the proprietors. he then sold out his interest, and went to St. Louis, where he taught in Bryant & Stratton's Business College. He subsequently returned to Des Moines, and for eight years held the position of head bookkeeper in Seebergen's wholesale establishment, since which time he has been in the employ of the Baker Barbed Wire Company.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.