THANKS Cindy!

This is definitely MY John Lewis Ells. I have quite a bit of info about his career in the Confederacy but was unaware of the Mexican War connection. It makes sense; he was a little old for jumping into the war as a Sargent w/o experience.

Interesting that Nathaniel died in Troy, NY in 1854. That helps explain how my John Lewis was up there in 1850. I'll have look for him in the 1850 census in NY vs. GA!

It raises another question though: Why are John's siblings {Eliza, James, Francis/Fannie, and Mary} and probable mother, M[artha] W., still in Macon in 1850, without Nathaniel? Martha and two of the children are in Augusta, Richmond, GA in 1860 where John Lewis Ells moves by 1861.

John Lewis had two other children besides John. I am descended from his daughter, Jefferson Davis Ells who married Frank Percival Robson. His other daughter, Emma Francis Ells, married Samuel Meintzer and has several descendants into genealogy.

Thanks again! Jan