Minerva Ellis

Brief Life History of Minerva

When Minerva Ellis was born on 7 April 1849, in Missouri, United States, her father, Joseph Ellis, was 31 and her mother, Frances Cochran, was 36. She married William Downs on 1 January 1868, in Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Liberty Township, Putnam, Missouri, United States in 1860 and Norwalk Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1900. She died on 16 February 1919, in Underwood, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States, at the age of 69, and was buried in Downsville Cemetery, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States.

Photos and Memories (1)

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Family Time Line

William Downs
1848–1920
Minerva Ellis
1849–1919
Marriage: 1 January 1868
David Marion Downs
1869–1937
Willis F Downs
1870–1959
Fannie Irene Downs
1872–1937
John Herbert Downs
1878–1945
Thomas Lee Downs
1892–1979

Sources (33)

  • Mary Downs in household of William Downs, "United States Census, 1900"
  • Legacy NFS Source: Manerva Ellis - Government record: Census record: birth-name: Manerva Ellis
  • Minerva Ellis, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934"

World Events (8)

1857 · The State Capital moves to Des Moines

The Capitol was located in Iowa City until the 1st General Assembly of Iowa recognized that the Capitol should be moved farther west than Iowa City. Land was found two miles from the Des Moines River to start construction of the new building. Today the Capitol building still stands on its original plot.

1863

Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free.

1868 · Impeach the President!

Caused by many crimes and breaking the Tenure of Office Act, Many Senators and House Representatives became angry with President Johnson and began discussions of his Impeachment. After a special session of Congress, the Articles of Impeachment were approved by the House and then the Senate. Making Andrew Johnson the first President to be Impeached.

Name Meaning

English: from the Middle English personal name Elis, an Old French vernacular form of Elias, the Latin and New Testament Greek form of Hebrew Eliyahu; see Elijah and compare Elias , Lias , Ely .

English: possibly in some instances from the Middle English female personal name Elice, a pet form of Elizabeth .

Welsh: from Elis, a shortened form of the Welsh personal name Elisse (earlier Elisedd, a derivative of elus ‘kindly, benevolent’). As usual in Welsh, the stress in Elisse is on the penultimate syllable -li-, which shifts to initial El- when the name is shortened to Elis. It later became confused with Ellis in 1 above.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

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