Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Leonora Mary Champan, 2/2/1830, in Monroe Co., MI; children: Mary M. and others
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
His father died about 2 months before he was born. He spent his early years on a farm and then worked for a tanner. He turned to the printing trade in Auburn, NYat about 20 he worked as a journeyman printer in Boston. After returning to New York state for a time he moved to Monroe, MI, in June, 1825. He brought with him from Buffalo, the press and other equipment for the newspaper; a printing office was secured for him by the business men of the village, and the Michigan Sentinel was launched. He was secretary of the La Plaisance Bay Harbor Co. in 1827 and first Monroe township clerk, also in 1827; supervisor in 1834. He moved to Detroit in 1842 and published the American Vineyard.
Notable Facts:
He published the first newspaper in Monroe in the years 1825-36; the first newspaper in Michigan territory outside of Detroit.
Ellis devised the law that directs all fines imposed for the violation of the penal laws in Michigan, and all sums assessed for the non-performance of military duty, should be set aside as a fund for the support of public libraries.