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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 768

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768 several weeks. My wife, self, and one other met, when one and then another of the old saints met with us until they became satisfied of the probability of the right in the case. Such was the beginning of the branch of the Reorganized Church in Pittsburg [Pittsburgh] and vicinity."

From this time Elder Ells was identified with the Reorganization, and soon became one of its leading ministers. At the Annual Conference held in April, 1865, at Plano, Illinois, he and Elder Charles Derry were chosen and ordained Apostles to fill vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve occasioned by the rejection of D. B. Rasey and David Newkirk. He occupied in this office faithfully the remainder of his life, doing missionary work in various parts of the United States and in Europe.

He died at Wheeling, West Virginia, October 15, 1885. At the next meeting of his Quorum, held at Lamoni, Iowa, in April, 1886, the Quorum passed the following: "Whereas, since our last session of conference, death has entered our ranks, and stricken down our venerable brother and fellow-laborer, Josiah Ells, as a tribute of respect we offer the following: While with profound reverence and respect to God, and a desire to exhibit a becoming resignation to the dispensation of his providence, we nevertheless are made to feel sad at the loss of so worthy and able an exponent of the faith, who through long and tedious years, and life's changing scenes, stood unyielding to opposing powers brought to bear against the latter-day work.

"During his earthly career he bore the cross as a noble soldier, evincing by precept and by example a virtue and love for equity and truth equaled by few and surpassed by none. In his death we lose a wise and able counselor, and the church a faithful, competent, and worthy representative. Let his name be kept in memory as one of earth's noblest men"

Elder Ells married in early life, but in a sketch written by himself, from which we have gleaned much of this information, though he several times mentions his wife, he gives no account of the event.

(page 768)

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