John H Ellis is the son of Peter Ellis (b. 1804, d. 1884) and Mary (McCallister) Ellis (b. 1823, d. 1904).
He was born in Stony Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.
His siblings were Francena (Guston) Ellis (b. 1846, d. 1925), William Hugh Ellis (b. 1848, d. 1920), Clementine (Humphrey) Ellis (b. 1852, d. 1907) & Lemontine (Reason) Ellis (b. 1852, d. 1930) (twins), George Washington Ellis (b. 1855, d. 1910), Elizabeth R. (Lawson) Ellis (b. 1858, d. 1940) and Hugh Mc Ellis (b. 1860, d.1939).
John was first married Virginia M. (unknown maiden name) who was born in 1850 in Ohio. In January of 1870 he moved to West Pilot Township, Iowa County, Iowa. From this marriage to Virginia she bore a daughter and two sons. The daughter died in 1870 and the sons in 1872. Virginia also died in 1872 and is buried in Pilot Grove Cemetery, Iowa County, Iowa.
He was then remarried on March 8, 1879 in Iowa to Alice Hamilton who was born on February 1, 1852 in Cincinnati, Warren County, Ohio and died on May 5, 1929 in Perry Township, Jefferson County, Kansas. Alice is the daughter of Robert Hamilton of Adams County, Ohio and Effe "Effie" McCallister of Warren County, Ohio. Alice was a twin to Annis Hamilton who died before John and Alice were married. Alice's parents and sister are all buried the Oakland Cemetery, Sac County, Iowa.
Together they had 6 children: Robert Ira Ellis (b. 1880), Tina A. (Ellis) Ellis (b. 1881, d. 1946), Ida (Devlin) Ellis (b. 1883, d. 1926), Edna Ora (Andrews) Ellis (b. 1886, d. 1942), Ada P. (Kistler) Ellis (b. 1890, d. 1942) and Walter Irl Ellis (b. 1891, d. 1956).
John and Alice moved to Perry Township, Jefferson, Kansas in 1920 and he farmed there until his death.