Ells, Josiah

4 Mar. 1806–15 Oct. 1885. Blacksmith, gunsmith, preacher. Born in Lewes, Sussex Co., England. Son of Thomas Ells and Hannah. Joined Methodist church, 1826. Married Eliza L. Campion, 25 Mar. 1828, in Leicester, Leicester Co., England. Immigrated to Philadelphia, 1831. Moved to Monmouth Co., New Jersey, 1835. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Benjamin Winchester, 1 Oct. 1838, in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co. Ordained an elder, Dec. 1838. Served as presiding elder in local branch, beginning Dec. 1838. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Apr. 1840. Appointed lieutenant colonel in Nauvoo Legion, 3 July 1841. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Attempted to rescue JS from his arrest in Lee Co., Illinois, June 1843. Disfellowshipped, 3 Nov. 1844. Ordained an apostle in Sidney Rigdon's Church of Christ, Apr. 1845. Moved to Pittsburgh, by June 1850. Joined Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by Apr. 1865. Ordained an apostle in Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 6 Apr. 1865, in Plano, Kendall Co., Illinois. Moved to Allegheny (later in Pittsburgh), Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania, by June 1870. Moved to West Wheeling, Belmont Co., Ohio, by June 1880. Died in Wheeling, Ohio Co., West Virginia.