Uriah Samuel Ellis

His parents started to Missouri on a wagon train to homestead. His father (Frank Ellis) was killed in an accident. His mother, Parthenia Kendrick Ellis Whitlock) returned to Rhea Co. with their two sons, C.J.and Sam. She later married Lt. William Whitlock from Rhone County who was a Union soldier with the 5th Tennessee Infantry. Sam Ellis was very close to his mother. His parents, Frank and Theny, made regular visits to a community called Daddy's Creek in the mountains near Crossville. The sign is now along Hwy. 70.

Sam or U.S. as he was called, married DeGenira Jane Buttram on 29 March, 1879. Together they had 10 children. He was a member and trustee of the M.E. Church. He farmed the land his wife had been given by her father about 3 miles north of Dayton in the Walnut Grove Community. He later bought a farm on the edge of Dayton - 10 acres of orchards near 4th Avenue. The farm is covered by the lake now. The house was moved across the street on 4th Avenue. He enjoyed having his large family around - a yearly reunion was a must.