My Genealogy Hound

J. HOWARD ELLIS, teller in the People’s National Bank of Norristown, is descended from one of the oldest families in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. The Ellis progenitors were among the earliest comers from Wales to Radnor, in Delaware county, afterwards removing to what is now Plymouth township, on the east side of the Schuylkill river, and settling in that and the adjoining townships of Whitemarsh and Whitpain where they have ever since been represented by different generations.

John Howard Ellis is the son of Reuben Amos and Mary Ann (Slingluff) Ellis, both deceased. He was born in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1852. Henry Slingluff Ellis, Catharine Augusta Ellis, Elizabeth Ann Ellis, Jacob Reiner Ellis and Samuel Harley Ellis were brothers and sisters.

Reuben A. Ellis, father, was the son of Amos and Catharine Ellis, of Whitpain township. He was born March 30, 1824, in Whitpain township, and died in Norristown, May 6, 1903. He followed farming most of his life, but was for some years near the close of his life watchman at the People’s National Bank. His wife, Mary Ann, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Schlater) Slingluff, was born September 17, 1824, and died March 16, 1898. The Slingluffs and Slaters are both old families of Montgomery county. The Slingluffs of the county are descended from Henry (Hendrick) one of seventy-five Palatines who with their families came to Philadelphia, August 19, 1729, in the ship “Mortonhouse,” from Rotterdam. He was accompanied by his wife Christiana, and a son Paulue.

J. Howard Ellis was educated in the public schools and in Washington Hall Collegiate Institute, which institution he attended three terms. He then engaged in teaching school as an occupation, continuing in it for about fifteen years and teaching one year each in Limerick, Worcester, Lower Providence and Perkiomen townships; seven years at Puff’s School in Upper Dublin; two years at the Eight Square school in Gwynedd township; and one year in Towamencin. He then came to Norristown and accepted a clerkship in the People’s National Bank, being promoted successively to bookkeeper and teller, which position he has held for several years. He became an employee in the bank May 17, 1884, at first performing for a short time the duties of night watchman. During all this period of more than twenty years Mr. Ellis has rendered the most faithful and efficient service to the institution.

Mr. Ellis is a Republican in politics, and has always been actively interested in the success of its principles and candidates. He held the position of registry assessor in the seventh ward, in which he resides, for several years. He was elected a member of the Norristown school board in February, 1903, having been previously appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of C. Henry Fisher. As a member of the school board Mr. Ellis had been attentive to educational interests generally.

In religious faith Mr. Ellis is a member of the German Baptist Brethren church. He was for many years a member of the Upper Dublin church of that denomination. Since his removal to Norristown, over twenty years ago, he has been connected with the Barbadoes street congregation, being a deacon. He is also the superintendent of the Sunday school. He has been for a number of years secretary of the church board, and he has frequently served as a delegate to district meetings. Mr. Ellis is a member of the beneficial societies at Eagleville.

Mr. Ellis married Elmina Letitia Tinney Wentz, daughter of Samuel and Mary Wentz, of Upper Dublin. Her parents, who were members of a family long resident in that section of Montgomery county, are both deceased. Mr. Wentz was a millwright by trade. The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Ellis are: Morris R., born September 28, 1881, died in May, 1885; Carrie W., born November 2, 1883, graduated at the Norristown high school in the class of 1903, and is engaged in teaching in the primary grade at the John F. Hartranft school in Norristown; Anna Myrtle, born November 16, 1888; Raymond, born December 23, 1891.

Other children of Samuel and Mary Wentz were Caroline P., Amanda C., Thomas T., Morris T. and Enos T. Wentz. All are deceased but the last named.