More Ellis reunion information

Days Inn at Fordyce phone # is 870-325-2400. Address is 2500 West 4th Street,k Fordyce 71742.

Everyone I have talked to is very interested and plan to attend. Hopefully, we will have a good time and get to know one another.

Call, write or e-mail names of any kinfolks who should be invited. Or, better yet, you get in touch with all you know.
By now, there are several generations and some young people have developed an interest in geneology.

Good ideas are welcome, too. Some have already come in, like a scavenger hunt which encourages inter-generational interaction; ex. young people have to get autographs of an 70 plus man and woman and find out something interesting about them.

What we wind up doing will depend on the response. So, start thinking and put a little time into contacts. As it gets closer, we will be asking folks to help with the details.

Co-chairs this year.

Bob Evans, 479-650-1483, RobertEvans2@cox.net

Lum Ellis, 504-259-2678, lumanddonna@yahoo.com

A Unique Ellis Reunion is Planned for You

FORDYCE, ARKANSAS AND CALAWAY CEMETERY

EVENT THAT YOU AND ALL YOUR RELATIVES WILL WANT TO ATTEND A VERY SPECIAL REUNION OF ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF COLUMBUS (LUM) AND ELIZABETH ELLIS WILL BE HELD MEMORIAL DAY WEEK-END AT THE VERY PLACE THAT IT ALL BEGAN. MANY ACTIVITIES WILL MAKE THIS A SPECIAL .

Calaway cemeter y (est. 1855) is where GrandPa and GrandMa Ellis and most of their 17 children are buried. The reunion will be held in connection with "Decoration Day" at the cemetery. A feature of the week-end will be an historical pagaent, "Tombstone Talk" or "This is your life Lum, Elizabeth and Miss Fanny Ellis", which will be a reenactment (in the cemetery) of many of the highlights from the early years of your ancestors. Each branch of the family tree is asked to designate a person(s) to dress in period attire and participate in the skit. Planning and rehearsal will be Friday night under the direction of Ron Evans (Your cousin from Mississippi Public Television).

It is likely that Arkansas Educational Television will be taping this tabloid for a presentation featuring the Old Cemeteries of Arkansas. You will not want to miss this entertaining and educational experience.

The Days Inn at Fordyce, Arkansas will be the headquarters. 20 Rooms have been reserved, but must be confirmed by you by March 15, 2008 (First come, first served $75/room/night). Those with RV's may stay at Jacinto Community Campground (about 15 miles from Fordyce) for $5.

Friday afternoon there will be check-in, welcome and hospitality at Days Inn followed by a fried fish and chicken supper catered at the Jacinto Campground followed by Pagaent planning and rehearsal. There will also be a variety show featuring the talent in your family. The campground is a beautiful, unique, country place.

Saturday all day will be spent at Calaway Cemetery and the Providence Community. There will be tours of the area with stops at significant places, including the Ellis homestead, where the old picture was taken, and the home places of the Ellis clan who lived in the community, the church and one room school location, etc. For the children (and young at heart) there will be horse back rides, horse and wagon rides, toe-sack and 3 legged races, face painting and other activities typical of the generation we are honoring.

Each year the Calaway Cemetery Association (President Ellis Evans, your cousin) holds a Decoration Day and our reunion will be in conjuction with that activity. There is an old fashioned dinner on the ground to which people bring covered dishes. Some of our men will be cooking to cover our contribution of food.

Sunday morning there will be a continental breakfast (brunch) and farewell at the Days Inn at Fordyce. We will salute those of our family who have served in the wars and conflicts of our country. Only one of the 80 (?) second generation cousins was killed in WW II (J. C. Ellis, Uncle Robert's son). Plans will be made for the next reunion. Hosting rotates among the descendants of each of the first generation children. 13 of the 17 children grew to adulthood. An ELLIS REUNION BLOG has been established on the internet. ( ellisreunion2008blogspot) Visit it and make any suggestions, ask questions and share pictures and any interesting family legends, myths and history that might be included in the pagaent. Our ambition is to stimulate as much interest in Ellis history, geneology, legacy and traditions as possible. The Arkansas and Calhoun County Historical Societies will participate. Visit the blog as more information comes in. The drama is going to share lots of genetic, social and cultural family information which is important to you even if you are in the 5th generation of descendents.

For this reunion to be successful, we need the cooperation and support of all our cousins. Be sure that everyone on your part of the family tree gets the word and encourage all to set aside May 23-25, 2008 for a fun time of history, culture and tradition. You will truly be stepping back in time.

1925 PHOTO OF GRANDPA COLUMBUS ELLIS & FAMILY @ ELLIS HOMESTEAD

NAMES & NUMBERS CORRESPOND TO PHOTO

FIND YOUR ANCESTORS

Obituary of Dowlin Columbus (Lum) Ellis

Mr. Dowlin Columbus Ellis was born Decembus 27, 1853 and was married to Susan Elizabeth Cochran February 17, 1876.

To them were born 17 children, 10 sons and 7 daughters. Five of the children and their mother preceeded the father in death, four of them in childhood, the mother August 12, 1909: the last of the five, Mrs Mary McGuire, December 16, 1931, leaving five children of her own.

He was married to Mrs Fanniie J. Cheek October 23, 1913, who proved to be a faithful and loving companion even through his death, now being left to suffer untold grief and loss.

The surviving children's names are: John D, Thornton; Willie A., Hutting; Dr. Walter S., Fordyce; Nellson O., Little Rock; Robert L., Thornton; George D., Little Rock; Wilson, Beardon; Mrs. Eula Evans, Manila; Mrs. Sarah Evans, Thornton; Mrs. Julia Murry, Thornton; Mrs. Beulah Sullivan, Thornton and Mrs. Christine Jones, Thornton.

He also leaves 62 grand-children and 19 great-grand-children. He never united with a church, but privately confessed the Lord as his Savior.

He died in his own home November 13, 1933, 8:15 p.m.

Pall Bearers
Dr. T. E. Rhine, Mr. Jeff Gatling, Eld. C. A. Hampton, Mr. M. A. Martin, Mr. N. A. Steelman, Mr. R. L. Evans

Columbus and Elizabeth Ellis' children

The 17 children born to Dowlin Columbus Ellis and Susan Elizabeth Cochran were:

John D. 6-14-1877 12-16-1946
Janalia Belle 6-9-1879 9-9-1880
Willie 1-30-1881 7-21-1943
Walter 1-16-1883 11-22-1951
Nelson 8-3-1884 2-12-1946
Robert 1-21-1886 2-2-1959
Garland 3-31-1887 8-14-1889
Julie 4-28-1889 9-19-1939
Beulah 9-14-1890 5-14-1941
James 12-4-1891 12-18-1892
George 10-5-1893 11-21-1955
Wilson 7-8-1895 3-18-1964
Styles 10-26-1897 11-1-1897
Eula 6-13-1899 8-11-1957
Mary 1-30-1901 12-16-1931
Sarah 9-5-1902 11-24-1974

Notice fourdied as infants. Which was your ancestor?
Christine 7-20-1907 12-20-1943

Check comments for more info

Check comments on this blog for a more informative discussion of some of the plans under consideration. There is a growing interest in genealogy, cultural history and family traditions. We need the help of every living child, grand child, great grand child and great great grand child of the 13 children of Columbus and Elizabeth Ellis. The reunion will center around the cemetery and old community where it all started.

We need more names!

Send us the names of all Ellis descendants who might be interested in the reunion. Use this blog to communicate your ideas and to let us know if you can be there. What we do will depent largely on the number attending. We will be adding pictures and more details. This can be a lot of fun and very informative for kin of all generations.

Co-Chairs are Bob Evans (RobertEvans2@Cox.net) and Lum Ellis(lumanddonna@yahoo.com) 504-259-2678
23098 Freddie Frank Road #166, Pass Christian, Miss. 39571.