THE ELLERY'S

Dr. Ellery of La Grange Missouri back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence

I have always know the Ellerys and as I grew older I became interested in their family history.  As a child, part of my life was spent here in La Grange where my family always spent the summer working in The Indicator.  Our friends came with us and so..when out son, Sherwood, was adopted we immediately brought him here to the house and surroundings we always loved and returned.  As I carried my little one, at 14-months, over my shoulder, down the street, I meta familiar figure. 

 

Dr. Will Ellery bent over the boy and said Amy what a beautiful boy@...my son replied Amove@; I=ll never forget that!  But neither will my son, who broke his leg and smashed his knee in Riverview Cemetery when he was 4 years old.  Because Dr. Will took care of him and twice a week gave him a very painful and rough treatment, trying to avoid surgery.  He could talk more and there was always a lively exchange.  Dr. Will met Alice Reid when she came to La Grange in the summer to stay with my family.  She was a close friend of Jessie Sherwood, my great aunt.  They married in Chicago and I grew up as a friend of their 5 children.  I gathered historical material about the family when working on the La Grange Sesquicentennial history book and only a portion was printed in the book.

 

 William Ellery Eppes, II married Ann Bullard and they had 5 children, all of whom were born in Baltimore, Maryland.  The oldest, Albert Edward Ellery, served as a captain in the Confederate Army and was killed near Richmond, Virginia, February 1, 1864.  Ann Bullard Ellery came to La Grange after the death of her husband and lived with her son, William Eppes.  She is buried in Riverview Cemetery.

 

Another son, Philip, became a business man in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  A daughter Emeline Ellery married and died in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Another daughter, Ann Matilda Ellery married Dr. Humphrey Bowman of Virginia, a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School.  They moved to Farmington, Iowa where their descendants live today.  The other son, Dr. William Eppes Ellery was born January 19, 1816.  He is buried here in La Grange and his tombstone and the tombstone of his wife Lucy is one of the few still standing in the southern part of Riverview Cemetery.  He - as most of Ellerys received an excellent education, graduating from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1844.  He came to La Grange, Missouri where he married Lucy Catherine La Fon, daughter of Judge La Fon who built the first brick house in Lewis County, and was a Judge of the first Lewis County court.

 

*John La Fon was one of the first settlers (about 1830) and his wife Martha Johnson Winfree from Chesterfield County, Virginia, came to Missouri by boat and covered wagon.*

 

In 1845 Dr. William Eppes Ellery, having graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1844, came to La Grange where he married Catherine La Fon, daughter of Judge La Fon who had built the first brick house in Lewis County.  Dr. Ellery was a big strong man who use to swim the Mississippi with a hogshead or small barrel in his teeth.

 

 

An ancestor, William Ellery, born in Newport, Rhode Island January 24, 1727 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a lawyer, naval officer who suffered great losses during the Revolutionary War.  (In Providence, Rhode Island, there is a William Ellery Chapter of the D.A.R.).  Dr. & Mrs. William E. Ellery had four children born in La Grange.  One son, Dr. William L. Ellery was born September 23, 1883.

 

A son, Dr. William Ellery, born in La Grange in 1854, received his medical education at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1877, and eventually joined his father in his practice in La Grange.  He practiced his profession for 57 years until his death in 1935 in La Grange.  He began practicing medicine in 1849 and died in a cholera epidemic in 1857, after practicing for more than 25 years. (Hannibal Courier Post.  May 4, 1956)

 

Dr. William L. Ellery was born September 23, 1883 and graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, in 1906.  The three doctor Ellerys provided continuous medical services to this community for 117 years.

 

The last Dr. Ellery died on October 21, 1962.  On May 6, 1956, the La Grange Chamber of Commerce sponsored a ADr. Ellery Day@ in which more than 600 people crowded into the La Grange High School auditorium (where a carry in dinner preceded) to pay tribute to Dr. William L. Ellery in observance of his completion of 50 years of service to the community.  He received many gifts and honors.

 

He was father of Christopher Ellery, born at Newport, Rhode Island on November 1, 1768, graduated from Yale, was admitted to the bar and practiced law at Newport.  He was a U.S. Senator from 1801 to 1805, was appointed U.S. Commr of Loans at Providence by President Jefference in 1806, was Collector of Customs at Newport from 1820 until 1834.  He died in 1840.

 

The immigrant ancestor, William Ellery, was born about 1643 at Bristol, England, came to Massachusetts about 1660 and settled in Gloucester.  I have found reference which states that the family immigrant came earlier about 1620, before the Mayflower arrived, and he survived Indian massacre in which 400 white settlers lost their lives.  However, I can=t authenticate this.  His son, also named William Ellery was born at Newport, Rhode Island on December 22, 1727 and died there on February 15, 1820.  (Another son, Nathaniel was born.)

 

Ellery born 12/22/27 - died 02/15/1820, from Harpers Popular Encyclopedia of U.S. History by Benson J. Lossing, L.L.D. Vol. I Harper and Brothers Publishers, New York, 1890 pp. 428-429...was a naval officer of Rhode Island in 1770.  AAn active patriot, he was a member of Congress from 177 - 1735, accepting two years, and was very useful in matters pertaining to finance and diplomacy.  He was especially serviceable as a member of the Marine Committee and of the Board of the Board of Admiralty.  During the occupancy of Rhode Island by the British, he suffered great loss of property, but bore it with quiet cheerfulness as a sacrifice for the public good.  He was Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Rhode Island and in 1790 was collector of the Revenue at Newport.  Mr. Ellery was a strenuous advocate of the abolition of slavery.

 

William Ellery, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born at Newport, Rhode Island on 12, 22, 1727 and died 02, 15, 1820.  He graduated from Harvard in 1747, became a merchant in Newport and was a naval officer of Rhode Island in 1770.  He afterwards studied and practiced law at Newport and was a naval officer of Rhode Island in 1770.

 

Who=s Who in America 1607-1896

William Ellery, Continental Congressman, jurist, b. 12/22/1727, son of William and Elizabeth; graduate of Harvard 1747; married Ann Remington in 1750; married a second time to Abigail Cary in 1767.  Adm. to bar in 1770; member of Continental Congress in 1776-80, 81-28, 82-86., singer of Declaration of Independence, Chief Justice in Rhode Island Superior Court in 1785 - Commr, Continental Loan Office for Rhode Island, Collector Customs Newport District from 1790-1820.  Died in Newport on February 15, 1820.

 

Christopher Ellery, his son (Senator), b. Newport, Rhode Island on 11/1/1768, graduate of Yale University in 1787; admitted to bar, practicing law in Newport.  U.S. Senator 1801-1805 appt. U.S. Commr. of loans at Providence by (President Jefferson) in 1806, Collector of Customs  in Newport 1820-1834; died 1840.

 

Frank Ellery, naval officer., b. Newport, Rhode Island, son of Christopher and Clarissa (Bird) married Elizabeth Martin on August 4, 1835.  Midshipman for the U.S. Navy in 1812; wounded at sea in first battle, received sword and reward from Congress in 1814; served against Algerian pirates, promoted to Lieutenant, 1820; served under Captain Jesse D. Elliot from 1825-1832; Lutenent in command Enterprise, converted ships for blockade; retired as Commander in 1867, and died in 1871.  (In Providence, Rhode Island there is a William Ellery chapter in the DAR.)

 

In 1847, Dr. William Eppes Ellery married Lucy Catherine La Fon in La Grange.  In 1849, he began to practice medicine - died in cholera epidemic in 1857.  After sending his family to safety, he died from the disease while treating his patients.  He was a strong man and swam the Mississippi with a small keg in his mouth.  After his death Lucy La Fon Ellery married Mitchell and William Ellery grew up in the old Mitchell House...just south of La Grange.

 

In 1845, Dr. William Eppes Ellery, having graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1844, came to La Grange where he married Lucy Catherine La Fon, daughter of Judge La Fon who had built the first brick house in Lewis County.  Dr. Ellery was a big, strong, erect man who used to swim the Mississippi with a hogshead or small barrel in his teeth.  He began practicing medicine in 1849 and died from Cholera, while treating his patients in an epidemic.  A son, Dr. William Ellery, born in La Grange in 1854, received his medical education at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1877.  He practiced his profession for 57 years in La Grange, before his death in 1935.  His son, the third Dr. Ellery to practice medicine in La Grange, was born September 23, 1883 and graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, in 1906.  This Dr. Ellery, William L., was honored by the La Grange Chamber of Commerce with a ADr. Ellery Day@.  More than 600 people crowded into the La Grange High School auditorium on May 6, 1956, to pay tribute to him, in observance of his completion of 50 years of service to the community.  A carry-in dinner preceded the ceremonies.  There were many laudatory speeches, honors and gifts.  Dr. W. L. died on October 21, 1962.  (An ancestor of the Ellerys, Dr. William L. Ellery from Newport, Rhode Island was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

 

While I was working on the history of La Grange for the Sesquicentennial last year I gathered a huge file on a family in La Grange who had an ancestor who signed the Declaration of Independence, and assisted in drafting the U.S. Constitution.  The name of William Ellery can easily be traced to the city limits of La Grange, Mo., from Bristol, England to Gloucester, Massachusetts.

 

The immigrant William Ellery was born about 1643 and arrived in Massachusetts about 1660.  He was a merchant and own a sloop.  He died on December 8, 1695.  He married twice and had a son by his first marriage, Benjamin, became a very wealthy merchant at Newport, Rhode Island.  He was the grandfather of another William Ellery, born December 22, 1727.  The latter William Ellery graduated from Harvard in 1747.  He became a merchant in Newport and was a naval officer of Rhode Island in 1770.  He afterward studied and practiced law at Newport and :gained a higher reputation.@  An active patriot, he was a member of Congress from 1776 to 1785, except for an interval of 2 years.  (He signed the Declaration of Independence.)  He was very useful in matters of diplomacy and finances.  As a members of the Board of Admiralty and the Marine Committee he was especially serviceable.  During the occupancy of the British he suffered extreme hardships, loss of property and financial bankruptcy.  His home was burned down and his family harassed.  But he bore it with quiet cheerfulness as a sacrifice for public good.  He became chief justice of the Superior Court of Rhode Island and in 1780; Commr. of Continental Loans Office and was Collector of Revenue at Newport until his death in 1820.  He was the father of U.S. Senator Christopher Ellery of Rhode Island during Jefferson=s administration.  As one of the two delegates of Rhode Island, it is recorded that he stood next to the desk as the patriots signed their names and watched the faces of all knowing that they might be signing their death warrants.  That their properties would be confiscated .  He is quoted as saying Aeach man=