Ella was born near Pierceville, Van Buren County, Iowa on May 12, 1854. She never married. In adulthood she continued to reside in the farmhouse located on what had been her father's farm near Azen in Scotland County Missouri for her entire lifetime.

She has been known effectionately by all who knew her (and still remember her) as "Aunt Ellie". Many still remember "Aunt Ellie's Place" in the mid 1920's as having the last open water well (rope, pulley, & bucket) in that part of the county.

She died on January 6, 1939 in Scotland County and was buried at Prairie View Methodist Church Cemetery.