John Ellison, Jr.
was born at Almah, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1779, son of Andrew Ellison who has a sketch herein. He came to this county with his father and mother when he was eleven years of age and located at Manchester, in the Stockade. He was elected sheriff of Adams County in 1806, and served until 1810, two terms. It was in December 8, 1808, while he was sheriff that David Becket was hung, the only legal execution which ever took place in the county.
On February 6, 1808, he was married to Anna Barr, who was a superior and most excellent woman. From December 10, 1811, until January 11, 1812, he served in the Ohio Legislature with William Russell as his colleague. Again from December 12, 1812, until February 9, 1813, he represented Adams County in the legislature with William Russell. From December 6, 1813, until February 11, 1814, he was in the legislature with John W. Campbell as his colleague. From December 5, 1814, to February 16, 1815, he represented Adams in the legislature with Nathaniel Beasley as his colleague. In the fourteenth legislative session, he was not a member, but from December 2, 1816, until January 28, 1817, he was a member of the house of representatives from Adams with Thomas Kirker as his colleague.
He bought the Buckeye Station farm in 1818 of Judge Charles Willing Byrd and paid $5,500 for it. At that time, there were 700 acres of it. This was his home until his death on April 10, 1829, in the fiftieth year of his age. His eldest son, Andrew Barr Ellison, was born in Manchester, December 19, 1808.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900