My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Sylvester L. Ellis, a leading physician of Adair County, was born in Montgomery County, Mo., in 1834, living there until about the age of eighteen, and attained his education at the common schools, and at Danville, Montgomery County. He graduated from the medical College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1880, although he had studied and practiced in Macon County previous to his graduation. In 1860 he came to Adair County, and practiced twenty-one years at Wilson, subsequently locating at Brashear, where he has since resided. He is also engaged in the drug business. He married Mary Byars in 1860, a lady from Shelby County, by whom he had three children, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Ellis died in January, 1887. He belongs to the Knights Templar, and is identified with the Missionary Baptist Church. Grandfather Willis Pressmill was an Englishman, served through the Revolutionary War, and afterward located in Smith County, Tenn., where he reared his family, and where he spent his last days. His father, William E., was born in 1798, in Tennessee, and was married there to Rebecca Lovelady, soon after which he came to Missouri, locating in Montgomery County, in 1821, and consequently takes his place in the ranks of the early pioneers of Missouri. He died in the same county in 1870, his wife having died about 1856. Dr. Ellis had four brothers and six sisters, all dead with the exception of one sister and one brother (Willis). James P. served in a Missouri Federal regiment, and died while at home on a furlough. In 1874 the Doctor was nominated for the office of State Senator in behalf of the Peoples’ party.