When William Clifton Ellis was born on 19 July 1889, in Scotland, North Carolina, United States, his father, William Henry Ellis, was 24 and his mother, Katherine Elizabeth Currie, was 19. He married Pearl Blue Barber on 18 October 1914, in Scotland, North Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Blue Springs Township, Robeson, North Carolina, United States for about 10 years and Blue Springs Township, Hoke, North Carolina, United States in 1920. He died on 19 December 1980, in Hoke, North Carolina, United States, at the age of 91, and was buried in Raeford, Hoke, North Carolina, United States.