Records history: Conrad Ells family

Conrad and Mary (Wolf) Ells family records history

by Conrad W. Terrill, last modified 7 September May 2023

Some of the links provided are FamilySearch links (a free LDS web site which requires registration; but some of those included here must be viewed at an LDS Family History Center (FHC), or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (FHL)). Some links are Ancestry.com or Newspapers.com, both of which require a paid subscription. All other links are public, and free. "NARA" is the National Archives and Records Administration.

1824-06-01a (Catholic parish register, marriages): Widower Arnoldus Wolf and Christina Hüls, with a dispensation in the first degree of affinity, from Sabbenhausen, m. 1 Jun. 1824, St. Michael's; {witnesses:} Hermannus Wolf of Sabbenhausen, Petrus Hellmann of Henkenbrink; at Sankt Michael Katholisch, Falkenhagen, Lippe, Germany.
[Kirchenbuch, 1771-1890, Katholische Kirche Falkenhagen (Rischenau), Hieraten (marriages) 1795-1829, FHL film 1185764 (vol. 1, p. 471) FamilySearch link (FHC), image]
[also available at Ancestry.com link (text only)]

1824-06-01b (Anglican (civil) parish register, marriages): Marr.: (civil) Johann Arnd Wolf of Sabbenhausen house no. 2 and Christine Huels or Moseke, m. 1 Jun. 1824, ~~~~~~ (22 ~~~); FHL 809903, Falkenhagen, p. 493.
[Kirchenbuch, 1685-1969, Evangelische Kirche Falkenhagen (Rischenau), Heiraten (marriages) 1741-1832, FHL film 809903 (p. 493) FamilySearch link (FHL), image (just above "1825")]
[also available at Ancestry.com link (text only)]

1828-01-31a (Catholic parish register, baptisms): Anna Maria Sophia Christina Wolf, b. 31 Jan., bp. 5 Feb. 1828, St. Michael's, dau. of Joh. Arnoldus Wolf and Christina Hüls; {sponsor:} Anna Maria Huls, witnesses: Christina Moseke, Christianus Wolf, Henricus Klaas, of Sabbenhausen, Sophia Schmidt of Hummersen; Sankt Michael Katholisch, Falkenhagen, Lippe, Germany.
[Kirchenbuch, 1771-1890, Katholische Kirche Falkenhagen (Rischenau), Taufen (baptisms) 1795-1829, FHL film 1185764 item 5 (vol. 1, p. 310) FamilySearch link (FHC), image]
[also available at Ancestry.com link (text only)]

1828-01-31b (Anglican (civil) parish register, baptisms): Anna Maria Sophia Wilhelmina Wolf, b. 31 Jan., bp. 5 Feb. 1828, dau. of Johann Arndt Wolf of Sabbenhausen house no. 2 and Christine born Moseke; {witnesses:} Christian Moseke, Christian Wolf, Heinrich Klass {all} from Sabbenhausen, Sophia Schmidtmeier from Hummersen, Anna Maria Hüls from Grafenbrink; FHL 809903, Falkenhagen, p. 337, 1828 no. 12.
[Kirchenbuch, 1685-1969, Evangelische Kirche Falkenhagen (Rischenau), Taufen, Heiraten, Tote, Konfirmanden 1741-1832, FHL film 809903 (p. 337, 1828 no 12) FamilySearch link (FHL), image]
[also available at Ancestry.com link (text only)]

1848-06-28: 1848 Ship passenger list, "Reform," from Bremen, Germany, to N.Y., N.Y., arrived 28 Jun 1848: Wilhelmina Wolf was traveling with her sister Friedrica and her uncle Arnd Maseke and his family. Arnd Maseke, 37, male, farmer; Louise [Maseke], 28, female; Anna Mar. [Maseke], 5, female; Wilm'e [Maseke], 1 [and] 1/2, female; Wilhelme Wolf, 21, female; Friedr. [Wolf], 20, female. Chr.[istian] Maseke, 19, male, [carpenter] was listed five lines above Arnd.
[FamilySearch link] [Ancestry.com link]
{Wilhelmina was Anna Maria Sophia Wilhelmina/Christina Wolf b. 1828.}

1850-06-01: 1850 US Census: Conrad and May Ehls, Shrewsbury Township, York Co., PA, 17 Dec. 1850, dwelling no. 221, family no. 221:
Conrad Ehls, 33, M, Labourer, Germany, (married within the year)
May [Ehls], 23, F, Germany, (married within the year)
Michael (Hemmile)?, 39, M, Labourer, Germany
Margaret [(Hemmile)?], 33, F, Germany
[NARA citation: 1850 U.S. Census; Roll: M432_839; Page: 264B] [FamilySearch link] Ancestry.com link]

1860-06-01: 1860 US Census: Conard Ells, Greene Township, Franklin Co., PA, P.O.: Chambersburg, 3 Aug. 1860, dwelling 1678, family 1643:
Conard Ells, 42, M, Day Lab, 50, Bavaria
Mary [Ells], 33, F, Prussia
Marg [Ells], 9, F, Penna, attended school within year
Eliz [Ells], 7, F, [Penna], attended school within year
Cath [Ells], 5, F, [Penna]
(Pruno)? [Ells], 3, M, [Penna]
Annie [Ells], 2, F, [Penna]
Jos Zook, 35, M, Farm Hand, [Penna]
[NARA citation: 1860 U.S. Census; Roll: M653_1111; Page: 211] [FamilySearch link] Ancestry.com link]

1867-10-31: Birth, Charles Jacob Ihls, son of Conrad & Mary (Wolf), born 31 Oct 1867, baptized 25 Nov 1867, sponsors: Jacob Morgenrode, Catherine Morgenrode, pastor: Rev. T.[homas]. O'neill. [Maryland State Archives, St. Paul's Parish Records: SCM 2901, p. 140 (PDF p. 75) (JPEG)]¹

1870-06-01: 1870 US Census: Conrad & Mary Hiltz, District 1, Balto. Co., MD, P.O.: Catonsville, 1 June 1870, dwelling 1069, family 1120:
Coonrad Hiltz, 53, H, W, D. Laborer, Bavaria, (male citizen of U.S. 21 or over, so eligible to vote)
Mary [Hiltz], 40, F, W, K. House, Prussia
Margaret [Hiltz], 19, F, W, Works in factory, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth [Hiltz], 17, F, W, [Works in factory], [PA]
Kate [Hiltz], 15, F, W, [Works in factory], [PA]
Benard [Hiltz], 13, M, W, [Works in factory], [PA], cannot read or write
Emma [Hiltz], 12, F, W, [Works in factory], [PA], cannot read or write
Joseph [Hiltz], 10, M, W, [Works in factory], [PA], cannot read or write
Mary [Hiltz], 7, F, W, At Home, [PA]
Mena [Hiltz], 6, F, W, [At Home], Maryland
For all: Father foreign-born, mother foreign-born.
[NARA citation: 1870 U.S. Census; Roll: M593_569; Page: 87B] [FamilySearch link (indexed as "Coonrad Hilty")] [Ancestry.com link (indexed as "Coonrad Hiltz")]

1871-09-03: Birth, Teresa Cecelia Ells, b. 3 Sep. 1871, bp. 11 Sep, dau. of Conrad Ells and wife Mary Wolf, of Union Factory. Sponsors: Nicholas B. Hartman and Mary Magdalen Hartman, pastor: Wm. E. Starr.
[Maryland State Archives, St. Paul's Parish Records: SCM 2901, p. 3 (PDF p. 138) (JPEG)]¹

1880-06-01: 1880 US Census: Conrad & Mary Ells, District 1, Balto. Co., MD, 15 June, 1880, dwelling 393, family 401:
Ells, Conrad, W, M, 61, [Head], married, Laborer, Bavaria, Bavaria, Bavaria
[Ells], Mary, W, F, 49, Wife, married, Keeping house, Prussia, Prussia, Prussia
[Ells], Margaret, W, F, 28, daughter, single, Works in Cotton Facty, Penna, Bavaria, [Prussia]
[Ells], Catherine, W, F, 25, [daughter], single, [Works in Cotton Facty], [Penna], [Bavaria], [Prussia]
[Ells], Bernard, W, M, 23, Son, single, Gardener, [Penna], [Bavaria], [Prussia]
[Ells], Joseph, W, M, 20, Son, single, Student of Divinity, Penna, Bavaria, Prussia
[Ells], Mary, W, F, 18, daughter, Works in Cotton Facty, [Penna], [Bavaria], [Prussia]
[Ells], Emily, W, F, 16, [daughter], single, [Works in Cotton Facty], [Penna], [Bavaria], [Prussia]
[Ells], Cecelia, W, F, 9, [daughter], single, attending school, Md, [Bavaria], [Prussia]
[NARA citation: 1870 U.S. Census; Roll: T9_495; Page: 263] [FamilySearch link (plus next page)] [Ancestry.com link (plus next page)]

1899-02-18: News article: "Jurors For The March Term. / Judge Burke yesterday selected the following list to serve as jurors at the March term of court, commencing Monday, March 6: / First District—Conrad Ells, John J. Doyle, Louis W. Freund, Nicholas Lauman, Sigfried A. Mitchell. / ... {many other districts}."
[Newspapers.com: The Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb 1899, p. 7 link]

1900-06-01: 1900 US Census: Second Precinct, Balto. Co., MD, 9 Jun. 1900, dwelling 269, family 270:
Ells, Conrad, Head, W, M, Dec. 1817, 82, M, 50, , Germany, Germany, Germany, 1846, 54, Na, rents house
[Ells], Mary, Wife, W, F, Aug. 1833, 66, M, 50, 11, 8, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1850, 50
[Ells], Bernard, Son, W, M, Mch. 1857, 43, S, Pennsylvania, Germany, Germany, Florist
[Ells], Mary, Daughter, W, F, Oct. 1862, 37, S, Pennsylvania, Germany, Germany, Weaver Wool Mill
All could read, write and speak English.
[NARA citation: 1900 U.S. Census; Roll: T623_606, sheet 14A] [FamilySearch link (plus next page)] [Ancestry.com link (plus next page)]

1901-02-18: News article: "Fatal Grip / ... The grip epidemic is subsiding in this locality, but the ill effects of the disease in the cases of a number of the sufferers from it have been alarming. One of the most serious cases is that of Mrs. Conrad Ells, an old lady, whose home is in Oella. She is now suffering from pneumonia. Mrs. Ells is the mother of Joseph Ells, secretary of the Gentleman's Driving Park, of Baltimore. ..."
[Newspapers.com: The Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb 1901, p. 9: link]

1902-12-26: News article: "His Eighty-Fifth Birthday. / Mr. Conrad Ells, believed to be the oldest resident of Oella, celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday yesterday. Despite his years, Mr. Ells is still very active. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1848, settling in Chambersburg, Pa., where he married Miss Marie Wolfe, of Schoenhausen, Prussia, who is still living. There are eight children---Mrs. A. A. Jones, Alberta, Md.; Mrs. Charles Atkinson and Mrs. August Wallenhorst, of Baltimore; Messrs Bernard and Joseph Ells, Mrs. Charles Holden, Mrs. Geo. McKenzie and Miss Mary Ells, of Oella." {So, according to this article, Conrad Ells was b. 25 Dec 1817.}
[Newspapers.com: The Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec 1902, p. 7 link]

1908-03-04: Death certificate, Conrad Ells, d. 4 Mar. 1908 at Oella, Balto. Co., MD. The primary cause of death was given as "infirmity of age," from which he had suffered for 8 weeks; the immediate cause of death was given as "debility," from which he had suffered for 4 weeks. The informant was his daughter Elizabeth (Ells) Atkinson. He was a carpenter, age 91 years (from which his birthyear can be calculated as 1817/1818), birthplace Germany, residing in Oella, married to Mary C. Ells. His father's name and his mother's name were both given as "Don't Know," and the birthplace of both was given as "Germany."
[Md. Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, Div. of Vital Records]

1908-03-06: Obituary:
"[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.]
"Ellicott City, Md., March 5.—Mr. Conrad Ells died today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George McKenzie, near Ellicott City.
"Mr. Ells was 90 years old and was born in Bavaria. He came to America when young, settling in Chambersburg, Pa, where he married Miss Maria Christina Wolfe, the daughter of John Arnold Wolfe, of Prussia. After residing some time in Pennsylvania Mr. Ells moved to Ellicott City, where he has lived for a number of years.
"Besides his widow he is survived by eight children—Messrs. Joseph and Bernard Ells, of Ellicott City; Mrs. Charles Atkinson, Mrs. August Wallenhorst, of Baltimore; Mrs. A. A. Jones, Mrs. George McKenzie, Mrs. Charles Holden and Miss Mary Ells, of Ellicott City. He also leaves 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren."
[Newspapers.com, The Baltimore Sun, Friday, 6 Mar 1908, p. 11 link]

1908-12-04: Death certificate, Anna Marie Ells, d. 4 Dec. 1908 at Oella, Balto. Co., MD, of exhaustion from cancer of the uteris, from which she had been suffering for two years. The informant was her son Joseph Ells. She was a housekeeper, a widow; age 78 years (from which her birthyear can be calculated as 1830), birthplace Germany, residing in Oella. Her dead husband's name was given as Bernard Ells. Her father's name was given as "John A. Wolf," her mother's as "Christania Heiltz," the birthplace of both as "Germany."
[Md. Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, Div. of Vital Records]

1908-12-06: Death notice, Mrs. Annie Marie Ells, age 78, d. 4 Dec. 1908.
[Newspapers.com, The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, 6 Dec 1908, p. 4 link]

1908-12-06: Obit: "Mrs. Annie M. Ells, widow of Conrad Ells, died Friday night from the infirmities of old age at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George C. McKenzie, on Westchester avenue, Oella. Mrs. Ells was 78 years old and is survived by six daughters and two sons."
[Newspapers.com, The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, 6 Dec 1908, p. 9: link]

1908-12-08: "Funeral of Mrs. Annie Marie Ells. / The funeral of Mrs. Annie Marie Ells, who died Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George C. McKenzie, at Oella, took place yesterday morning. high mass of requiem was celibrated at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Ellicott City, by the pastor, Rev. Michael A. Ryan. Burial was in Bonnie Brae Cemetery. "
Newspapers.com, The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, 8 Dec 1908, p. 8 link]

1915-01-31: Obituary, Joseph A. Ells, Sr., The Baltimore American, 1 Feb 1915: Partial summary: Joseph A. Ells died 31 Jan. 1915; he was born 54 years before (thus ~1860) in Chambersburg, PA, and moved to the vicinity of Ellicott City at about age 5 (thus about 1865 or 1866) with his parents, the late Conrad and Marie Ells. "After studying in the public school at Oella, he entered Rock Hill College, and graduated with high honors, standing third in a large class. While at Rock Hill he was one of its best athletes, being considered the best amateur college baseball catcher in Maryland at that time. . . ."
[From the collection of Gertrude Mahon Martin, Joseph Aloysius Ells's granddaughter, 1983. (JPEG) (transcript, PDF)]

References

1. St. Paul Parish, Roman Catholic, Ellicott City, Howard Co., MD, reel SCM 2907-1, Parish register 1838-1891, available online as a Maryland State Archives "megafile" (PDF, 1GB, link)
More detail may be found in the Maryland State Archives "Guide to Special Collections, Reel SCM scm 2907" (link)
A Maryland State Arcives overview, including the parish history, may be found at( link)
A book (224 pp.), St. Paul's Church and Parish, Ellicott City, Maryland : its origin and development : a sketch, by Brother Fabrician of Jesus; (Foley Bros., Printers, Baltimore, MD, 1910), may be found at (Ancestry.com link)