McDonough ILGenWeb

ELLISON, James Oscar. — Among the most enterprising and successful farmers of Macomb Township, McDonough County, Ill., is James O. Ellison, born in Adams County, Ohio, November 27, 1858, a son of Robert E. and Ann (Work) Ellison, natives, respectively, of Adams County, Ohio, and Washington County, Pa. Robert Ellison, his grandfather, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, as was also his great-grandfather, Thomas Ellison. His grandmother, Ebby (Lockhart) Ellison, was born m Scotland. On the maternal side, the grandparents, John and Peggy M. (Chisley) Work, were natives of Washington County, Pa. Robert E. Ellison, the father of James O., came with his parents to McDonough County, October 3, 1866, and settled in Macomb Township, where, on February 8, 1867, he bought a farm of 120 acres in Sections 22 and 27, on which he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in general farming, dying September 13, 1894.

James O. Ellison came to Macomb Township with his parents when he was eight years old, and received his early education in the common schools in that neighborhood, remaining on the home farm until February 17, 1890. After the death of his parents he bought a portion of the farm, and subsequently purchased more land, until he now owns 120 acres in Section 27, and eighty acres in Section 32, on which he lived until December 11, 1902. At that period he bought a residence on West Carroll Street, Macomb, which is now his home. He still carries on general farming, and raises Polled Angus cattle and road-horses.

On February 24, 1892, Mr. Ellison was married to Alice Peters, who was born and schooled in Lawrence County, Ohio. Two children have resulted from this union: A. Louise, born May 15, 1893; and Alice P., born May 6, 1895. Mrs. Ellison is a daughter of Isaac and Adeline (Didwit) Peters, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr. Ellison's sister. Martha Jane, died January 8. 1896, and another sister, Elizabeth L. Peters, January 24, 1898. His brother, John, lives in Montgomery County, Kans. In politics, Mr. Ellison is a supporter of the Republican party.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 872, extracted 04 Jan 2019 by Norma Hass.