I have had valuable help from many of the family, who have met my endeavors to gather correct information with ready and willing assistance. To Grace Peterson Colvin and J. E. Peterson for the family of their grandfather, Henry Ellis; to Emma Whisler for the family of her grandmother, Rosa Ellis Carman, and to Estella Orebaugh Pratt for the family of her great — grand mother, Katie Ellis Duckwall, I am greatly indebted. Some of the families have wandered so far away that all efforts to trace them have failed. My sister did not live to see my work completed, but well on its way, and the impetus she gave it carried it forward to the end. It was largely due to her encouragement and sympathy of interest that the work was ever finished. She was the inspira tion, the encouragement, and incentive of the work, and to her memory I dedicate my book.