Vilda Rebecca Ellis

Born in Bates, Idaho, to Earl Shakespeare Hall and Hannah Rebecca Dustin Hall, Vilda Rebecca Hall Ellis, 89, of Rexburg and formerly of Teton Valley, completed her earthly life at the Rexburg Nursing Center. She married Lewis Alexander Ellis June 11, 1935, in Rexburg, Madison County, Idaho. At the time of their marriage, she was last living in Driggs, Teton County, Idaho. Unfortunately, Lewis Alexander Ellis died on March 22, 1938, after they had been married for only about a year and 9 months. They had a stillborn son, Lewis Dell Ellis, born and died March 28, 1936, and a daughter, Irene, born in 1938 who I believe is still living.

In the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Velda and her 2 year old daughter Irene were living with Velda's sister and brother, Elizabeth and George Hall, in Driggs, Teton County, Idaho. Elizabeth was 33 and George was 19, and was working as a farm laborer at the time. With George's income of only $240 for 26 weeks worked in 1939, and Elizabeth's income of $120 from working 16 weeks in 1939, it must have been a hard time for the siblings, although Vilda did have own her home, which was valued at $500.00.

Their father, Earl Shakespeare Hall, was living nearby and working as a sheep herder on a ranch, and for the 10 weeks worked in 1939 at that occupation he earned $100. Another of Earl's children was living nearby, his son Henry R. Hall, who was married and living with his wife Illa, and their children, Phyllis, Dayle and Vena R. Henry was working as a farm laborer and his earnings for 12 weeks worked in 1939 were $384. There was a Walter Ellis, with his wife June and children Gary and Gloria also living nearby. Perhaps this was Vilda's brother-in-law and his family. Walter was working as a laborer on a road construction crew and earned only $50.00 for two weeks worked in that occupation in 1939. It's amazing that a family of 14 people could survive in 1940 on only $894!

Later in life Vilda was employed in the hot lunch program at Teton High School and Teton Valley Hospital, and she was secretary in the Assessor's/treasurer's office for ten years. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed crocheting, visiting with family, and baby-sitting her great grandchildren. She enjoyed a lifelong pursuit of genealogy.

Her daughter and sister-in-law, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren survive. Her parents, her husband, Lewis A Ellis, a son, Lewis Dell Ellis, a grandchild, three brothers and four sisters predeceased Vilda.

Created by: John Warnke (inactive)

Record added: Aug 13, 2007

Find A Grave Memorial# 20930786

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From other sources:

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, show that in 1969, Vilda Ellis was the Office Secretary of the LDS Temple, and was living at 562-1/2 "I" Street in Idaho Falls, Idaho County, Idaho. In another U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2, Vilda Hall Ellis was living at 408 W. Main Street in Rexburg, Idaho, 83440-1846. In the U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002, Vilda was living at 430 South 3rd West in Rexburg, Idaho, 83440-4069, and she lived there from 1993 to 2002.

From an article in the Idaho Falls Post-Register newspaper for Sunday, July 19,1959, Vilda was doing genealogical research and stated, "I am looking for the ancestry of Nancy Graham, born in 1796, in Madison, Geauga County, Ohio. She died in 1845 at Carthage, Illinois. She married Chauncey Loveland in 1815. they had seven children all born in Madison, Ohio." That same query was made in the same newspaper again on Sunday, September, 1959. Vilda must have "hit a brick wall", because back in those days there was no internet, and perhaps the library closest to Vilda would not have provided her with the names of Nancy's parents, who were Joseph Graham, born 1769, in Madison, Lake County, Ohio, and Nancy Sanderson, born 1771, in Madison, Ohio, who I found in the Geni.com tree.

According to Geni, Nancy was also married to a Samuel Graham, born June 20, 1771. I wonder if Joseph and Samuel were brothers and one of them died and then Nancy married the other brother? Geni shows Samuel's parents as John Graham and Hannah Hunn Graham and that Samuel had another wife, Sally Coltrin Graham, but does not show parents for Joseph Graham.

The following information was found for Nancy Graham Loveland on Geni from her "About" section of her profile page:

Chauncey and Nancy Graham Loveland, by Ada S. Eddins -- DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS,

THEY CAME IN '47. Pamphlet September, 1947 (written 100 years after they came to Utah).

Monday, April 5, 1847, the first group of the original (Mormon) pioneers left Winter Quarters on their trip to the Rocky Mountains. They traveled 111 days.

INDEX OF THE FIRST 1847 PIONEERS

LOVELAND, Chancey, born August 1, 1797, in Glascow Connecticut, died August 16th, 1876 in Bountiful, UT

CITY OF BOUNTIFUL - By Leslie T. Foe page 6:

Chancey Loveland left Winter Quarters with Brigham Young leading the first detachment of settlers. The men were selected for their skill as builders, blacksmiths, hunters, farmers and doctors.

Chauncey Loveland - Farmer

Chauncey Loveland was fifty years of age when he made the trek to Utah with the pioneer company. He was born in Glasgow, Connecticut, in October 1795, the son of Levi and Esther Hill Loveland. He married Nancy Graham at Madison, Ohio and there six children were born.

Later they moved to Carthage, Illinois, and during the time of their residence in that city his wife and a son died. In the spring of 1846, he married Sally Horn Crockett. Up to this time he had not affiliated himself and family with the Latter Day Saint Church, but was kindly disposed toward the Elders and aided them whenever he could. Soon after he accepted their teachings and while living at Mt. Pisgah, he was baptized into the Church.

When the roster was made up for the men who were to accompany President Young on the initial trip to the Rocky Mountains, Chauncey Loveland's name was on that list. After his arrival in the valley, he stayed only a short time, then accompanied President Young back to Winter Quarters for the purpose of bringing his family to Utah. They located in Bountiful on a tract of land and he engaged in farming and breeding fine horses.

From the time of his arrival in 1848, Mr. Loveland proved himself a conscientious and energetic pioneer as well as being of an adventurous nature. When the gold rush to California was at its height, he decided to join the gold seekers to explore the mining regions of that state. It is said that he traveled quite extensively but records left by his family fail to say whether the venture was successful.

He returned to Utah and resumed his farming activities. Mr. Loveland passed away August 16, 1875, at the age of 79 years. He was a kindly, unassuming man never aspiring to positions in public life.

Juanita Loveland

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I'm sure Vilda would have liked to have found the above information in her own genealogical research, but at least I was able to find it for Vilda, my third cousin twice removed. Also on Ancestry.com, I found another newspaper clipping from the Thursday, June 30, 1960, issue of the Post Register from Idaho Falls, when Vilda announced the engagement of her daughter, Irene, to Tim Thomson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Royle Thomson of Sugar City. The record states that Miss Ellis was a graduate of the Teton High School and attended Ricks College, and she was locally employed. Her finance was a graduate of Sugar Salem High School and has attended Ricks College. He served an LDS mission to New Zealand.

From another newspaper clipping from Sunday, May 23, 1965, Vilda is still doing her genealogical research and states that she is now, "Looking for parents of Elizabeth Porter. She was born about 1763 at Goshen Litchfield, Connecticut, and married Daniel Cook, born 1761 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut. She married Mr. Peters after the death of Daniel Cook and died about 1834 in Bloomfield, New York." I don't know if she ever found the answer to her question about these two ancestors.