John William Ellis was the son of John Wick Ellis and Malinda Jane Ramey Ellis who were some of the early settlers involved in the oranization of Pettis county, Missouri. He married Willie Virginia Scott on April 4, 1872 in Pettis county, Missouri. They had four daughters.

John William Ellis was known as Fiddlin John. There were so many John Ellises during his lifetime the family gave them all nicknames to differentiate to whom they were referring.

The marriage record of John and Willie Scott gave his name D. W. Ellis and hers as Willie Ann Scott.

According to the 1880 U.S. Census for Heath Creek township, Pettis county, Missouri, Eliza Scott, age 63 was living alone next door to her daughter and son-in-law, John and Willie (Scott) Ellis.

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Cedar township, Pettis county, Missouri John and Willie were renting a farm in Cedar township. John and Willie had been married 28 years at this time. Willie was mother of four children, all living in 1900.

According to the 1910 U.S. Census for Longwood township, Pettis county, Missouri John W. Ellis was engaged in general farming. He owned a farm on which he held a mortgage. Also living in his household in 1910 was his widowed daughter Ora E. and a hired man, Henry C. Bradley, age 27. He and Willie had been married 38 years as of 29 April 1910.

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Longwood township, Pettis county, Missouri John Ellis, age 71, a widower, was living alone but with son John Harvey Ellis next door. He was also living near John Wick Ellis amd his daughter Dova Lillian (Ellis) Rader and her husband R. Bruce Rader.

Fiddlin John Ellis died at the age of 79-3-6 of chronic myocarditis and Bright's Disease. Mrs. J. B. Greer was the informant on his death record. He was a widowed farmer at the time of his death in Sedalia, Pettis county, Missouri.