Dr. Charles McHenry Ellis (1817-1880) was born to Benjamin Ellis Jr., and wife Hannah McHenry, in Kentucky, one of a large family of brothers and sisters whose births range from 1799 to at least 1830. The family relocated to Birmingham, Alabama before 1826 and evidently it was here that young Charles married Elizabeth Lovelady (1819-1863). Their first child, Byanthany W.Ellis, was born March 12 1838. After this, the young couple and their baby son began the long and arduous journey, first by boat to New Orleans where they bought teams, tools and supplies necessary to transport them by wagon train to Texas, where in 1838 or early 1839, they arrived and began life in the Center Hill Community.

Dr. Charles filed his first land grant in 1839. He acquired quite a large land holding during his lifetime. He was known as a kind and generous man, giving of his time and talents to all in need. He was a "Country Doctor", going early or late, in sunshine or rain, heat or cold, over roads few would attempt to travel, to attend the ill or dying, and perhaps more, to console the sorrowing loved ones than to help the helplessly sick.

Dr. Charles and Elizabeth Ellis had twelve children, Byanthany W.(1838-1887); Obediah L.(1839); Christina Cornelia (1841-1921); Hannah T. (1843); Mary Jane (1845); John Irvin (1847); Eliza (1849); Ada (1851); Sarah Leona (1852-1924); Charles T. (1854); Patrick O'Connell (1857-1904); and Pinkney H. (1858-1924).

After the death of his wife Elizabeth Lovelady Ellis in 1863, Dr. Charles again married, in 1865, to Araminta Hartfield Dameron, widow of Moses Dameron, and of this marriage were born five children: Ida M. ( December 30, 1865); William McHenry (March 18, 1867); Columbus Bascom (1869-1931); James Calhoun (January 31, 1871), and Benjamin E. (April 5, 1874).

note: the above excerpted from "Living Believing and Loving", a Family Album, by Lahoma LaRue Lamance