J. William Ellwood, bank teller, is one of the young men of Herkimer county, New York, who have made good use of their opportunities, and is now actively connected with a business that has an important bearing upon the prosperity of the community in which he lives. He is one of five children born to James Daniel and Letitia (Foster) Ellwood, and was born in the village of Mohawk, New York, on March 4, 1903. James Daniel Ellwood was born in Cooperstown, New York, on June 6, 1875, and is now living in Herkimer, New York, and working for the Standard Furniture Company of that city as night fireman. He is the son of Moses D. and Louisa (Clemons) Ellwood. Moses D. Ellwood, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Starkville, New York, on September 30, 1840, and is now living in Utica, New York, aged eighty-four years. His business was that of an electrical engineer. Louisa (Clemons) Ellwood was born in the town of Warren, New York, on May 24, 1846, and died on November 28, 1915. Moses D. Ellwood is a Civil war veteran and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. He lost a half-brother in the same battle. Letitia (Foster) Ellwood, mother of J. William Ellwood, was born in Ireland, February 7, 1872, and is now residing in Herkimer, New York. Her parents were James Foster and Rhoda (Garvan) Foster, both of whom were born in Ireland. The former died in Ireland and the latter in Mohawk, New York. The Ellwood name is an old and honored one in the Mohawk valley. "Richard Ellwood, the emigrant" states the genealogy of the Ellwood family, "in 1750 built with his own hands the stone house below St. Johnsville, now known as Fort Klock, and his name or initials and the date are chiseled in a stone over one of the windows, in the front of the house. He died in 1754 and the house passed out of the family's possession for some reason. Perhaps the deed was never recorded; this may account for the claim of the Klocks of an unbroken title from the crown of England down to the present time. In 1755 the Klocks built a wing to the original house and this date is over the main door of this wing. This house has always been pointed out to the Ellwood descendants as the home of their emigrant ancestors."
J. William Ellwood was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. James Daniel Ellwood. His early education was received in the public schools of Herkimer, New York, and two years in the high school of that place. At the age of eighteen he left school and entered the employ of the Herkimer County Grangers Exchange as grocery clerk and remained there three years. He then became a clerk in the purchasing department of the Standard Furniture Company, where he carefully performed his duties for three years. On May 8, 1924, he became associated with the Herkimer, New York, National Bank, as teller, and now holds this position. Glen Foster Ellwood, his oldest brother, was born in the village of Mohawk, New York, on December 31, 1898, and was educated in the public schools of Herkimer He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is now associated with the Standard Furniture Company of Herkimer, New York. Arthur Raymond Ellwood, another brother, was born on January 11, 1906. He attended the public and high school in Herkimer, where he was graduated in 1922, and has now entered Syracuse University, taking the course of certified accountant. Helen Elizabeth Ellwood, sister of J. William Ellwood, was born on August 5, 1915, and is now a student in the public schools of Herkimer, New York.
Mr. Ellwood was a member of Company G of Herkimer, New York, High School Cadets, during the World war, and is a member of the Mohawk Valley Historical Society, and of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Herkimer, New York. For several years he was president of the Epworth League and assistant secretary of the Sunday school of that church. In politics he is a republican and is fond of all outdoor sports. The life of Mr. Ellwood is exemplary in all respects and his high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.