ABNER Y. ELLIS , mailing clerk in the Springfield, Illinois, post office, was born in Springfield, Illinois, June 1, 1840, and is the son of Abner Y. and Virginia (Richmond) Ellis; the former born in Warsaw, Kentucky; the latter born in the State of Vermont, near Montpelier, and came to Springfield in an early day. The subject of this biography received his earlier education in the private schools, and then attended the Illinois State University, in Springfield, and at the age of fourteen ceased to pursue his studies, as his labors were required at home. After leaving school, was in a telegraph office a short time, and then clerked for B. F. Fox, hardware, etc., then clerked for his father in forwarding and commission house, in connection with which he had a grocery store; then clerked for his father, who was with John Williams & Co., dry goods and groceries, and afterwards clerked for the firm of Hunt & Ellis, dry goods, groceries, etc., in which firm he clerked until 1857, when the firm ceased. On November 10, 1858, Mr. Ellis was employed in the post office in Springfield, Illinois, as paper distributor, and shortly after promoted to take charge of the letter mailing department, under Postmaster Lindsay, which position he has held since, a period of twenty-three years, as letter mailing clerk, (with the exception of s short interval, in which time he was in the office of Governor Yates.) All of the various places of Mr. Ellis' employment were in Springfield, Illinois. His father, A. Y. Ellis, Sr., was in business with A. G. Herndon, groceries and provisions; Assessor under General Henry, Sheriff; was with General Henry in his store and with Foley Vaughn, and next with Mr. Garland; was with Condell, Jones & Co.; was Postmaster in Springfield under Presidents Taylor and Fillmore; was with Z. A. Enos in the feed and commission business; then in partnership with H. A. Grannis in merchandising; next with John Williams & Co., then Hurst & Ellis, and afterwards merchandising by himself; afterward general delivery clerk in the post office in Springfield, under Postmaster Lindsay, then removed to his farm in Moro, Madison county, Illinois, in 1864, or thereabouts. The different firms mentioned with whom Mr. A. Y. Ellis was with, were all of Springfield, Illinois. He was born in Warsaw county, Kentucky, November 30, 1807, and died March 10, 1878, aged seventy years. His wife, Virginia, was born September, 1813, and resides on their farm near Moro, Illinois. The subject of this sketch, Abner Y. Ellis, was married December 20, 1865, in Reynolds township, Ogle county, Illinois, to Carrie L. Flagg, daughter of Willard Flagg (farmer) and Mrs. Lucy Flagg, natives of the State of Vermont, came to Ogle county, Illinois, in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. E. have four children, Richard Y., Alfred F., William F., and Lucy V., all born in the city of Springfield, Illinois. Mrs. Ellis was educated in her native county, Ogle county, in which she taught school for one year. She has one brother, Alfred M., and one half-brother, Oscar M. Lake, and two sisters, Mrs. Julia Braiden and Mrs. Antoinette Young. Mr. Ellis has four brothers, namely, Volney R., Orville P., Henry, John C., and two sisters, namely; Jane F., Salom E., all living. Mr. Ellis is a member of the National Association, Calhoun Lodge, No. 13. Mr. Ellis has sown his integrity to the people by retaining his position of trust for a number of years.