On the 1870 census, Ellis was listed as if last name were Meek in household of his stepfather. He did not attend school more that ten months in his life. He was a self educated man.

Wilma Earline Lee (who became the wife of Gerald Carlos Head) wrote that Ellis's first trip to Texas took him to Denton County near Lewisville. He carried food to Sam Bass just about three weeks before he was killed (1878). He went back to Mississippi for a short visit. At the time of the 1880 census, Ellis was listed as a boarder in his sister Martha and C A Wofford's home in Chewalla, Marshall County, Mississippi.

W E Reid came back to Texas in 1883 at age 22 by train. He settled at Star, Texas, because a neighbor friend of his in Mississippi settled there. They operated the first store and gin. He freighted goods from Waco, Gatesville and Lampasas. In 1884, he became the first postmaster in Star, Texas, while it was in Hamilton County. He met his wife Mary Ethel Bradley when she was teaching oil painting at Star and Center City. He worked on the Kingsley ranch located between Star, Texas & Center City, Texas. He purchased a farm of 190 acres west of Center City, Texas on top of a hill. Raymond Reid & Jewel Reid McBeth were born there.

At the time of the 1900 census, Ellis was listed as a farmer in Mills County, Texas. He was paying a mortgage to own his farm. (He gave his parent's birthplaces incorrectly every year.). On the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, Ellis reported that he owned his farm in Mills County, Texas, free of any mortgage. His farm was listed as a general farm.

He joined the Baptist church in about 1905. He was a Sunday School teacher and church clerk for forty years. He broke his hip in a fall and moved to Goldthwaite, Texas. He died at his son's (Bill Reid) house in Brownwood, Texas.

W. E. Reid

William Ellis Reid passed away Sunday afternoon, November 24, at 4:20 o'clock, after being confined to his bed for 19 months with a broken hip caused from a fall.

The body was brought to Goldthwaite Sunday evening. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church Truesday afternoon at one o'clock. Rev. D. A. Bryant, pastor of the Goldthwaite Church and Rev. Cloud, pastor of the Center City Baptist Church conducted the services. Burial was at the Hurst Ranch cemetery at Star.

Mr. Reid is survived by his wife, six daughters and two sons, a number of grandchildren and other relatives, and a host of friends.

W. E. Reid

William Ellis Reid, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley Reid, was born in Marshel County, Mississippi near Holly Springs September 26, 1860. He came to Texas in 1883 and to Mills county in 1884. He was joined in wedlock to Mary Ethel Bradley December 14, 1892, joined the Baptist Church in 1905, served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a great worker in all church, community and civic activities, and also served as association secretary for several years.

Mr Reid died November 24, 1946, at 4:45 p.m. at the home of his son, W.R. Reid, in Brownwood. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist Church in Goldthwaite November 26 by Rev. D. A. Bryant, the pastor, and Rev. Cloud, paster at Center City. Burial was at Hurst Ranch Cemetery at Star.

Survivors include his wife and seven children: Mrs. Ethel Carrol, Lockney, Texas; Mrs. Verdie McCasland, Goldthwaite; Jim Esta Atchison, Gatesville; W. R. Reid, Brownwood; Johnnie Head, Goldthwaite; Jewel McBeth, Gatesville; S. R. Reid, Goldthwaite; (deceased, Elta Elizabeth died in infancy); 18 grandchildren, 15 present, 3 absent; and seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were grandsons: Vernon, R.L., Kenneth, Wayland, Glenn, James.

Flower girls were granddaughters: Loyce, Foy, Mary Dean, Vondell, Etheleen, Monete, Atheleen.

Honorary pallbearers were: J. W. Coffman, Rev. Allen Carter, Ed Knight, and C. A. Head, Center City; Austin Jones and Neal Saulls, Star; W. M. Carlisle, Mullin; Dr. J. M. Campbell, Otto Kendall, E. A. Obenhaus, E. L. Pass, J. W. Jackson, Joe Casbeer, and John Evans, Goldthwaite.

• Married: 14 Dec 1892 in Star, Mills County, Texas ¹
• Note: The marriage between Mary and William Ellis Reid was performed by Rev. J. W. Johnson.
• Change Date: 2 Dec 2010

1. Mary Ethel Emeline Reid b: 15 Jan 1894 in Evant, Coryell County, Texas
2. Elta Elizabeth Reid b: 19 Mar 1895 in Star, Mills County, Texas
3. Verdie Ola Reid b: 9 Oct 1896 in , Hamilton County, Texas
4. Jimmie Esta Reid b: 13 Feb 1899 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas
5. William Riley Reid b: 21 Mar 1901 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas
6. Johnnie Clay Reid b: 27 Sep 1903 in Center City, Mills County, Texas
7. Jewell May Reid b: 3 Apr 1909 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas
8. Samuel Raymond Reid b: 8 May 1911 in Center City, Mills County, Texas

1. Abbrev: William Ellis Reid Bible
   Title: William Ellis Reid Bible
   Publication: in possession of Sammy Bruce Reid
2. Abbrev: Death Certificate
   Title: Death Certificate
   Publication: Official Document
   Page: Certificate Number: 48790
3. Abbrev: Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
   Title: Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Certificate Number: 48790
4. Abbrev: FindAGrave.com
   Title: FindAGrave.com
   Page: Memorial# 34259614
5. Abbrev: Bell County, Kentucky Families
   Title: Bell County, Kentucky Families
   Author: Sueann Morrow
   Publication: sueann@aol.com, RootsWeb.com Gedcom sueann3
6. Abbrev: 1870 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1870 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Range 1, Marshall, Mississippi; Roll M593_740; Page: 544; I mage: 441.
7. Abbrev: William Ellis Reid Interview
   Title: William Ellis Reid Interview
   Publication: School report written by a nephew in 1940
8. Abbrev: 1880 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1880 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Chewalla, Marshall, MS;Roll T9_657;Fam Hist Film: 1254657; Pg: 374.3000;ED: 111;Image: 0087
9. Abbrev: 1900 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1900 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Justice Precinct 1, Mills, Texas; Roll T623_1659; Page: 17A; ED: 111.
10. Abbrev: 1910 United States Federal Census
    Title: 1910 United States Federal Census
    Repository:
    Name: Ancestry.com
    
    Page: Justice Precinct 1, Mills, Texas; Roll T624_1578; Page: 7A; ED: 204; Image: 377.
11. Abbrev: 1920 United States Federal Census
    Title: 1920 United States Federal Census
    Repository:
    Name: Ancestry.com
    
    Page: Justice Precinct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll T625_1834; Page: 10B; ED: 167; Image: 389.
12. Abbrev: 1930 United States Federal Census
    Title: 1930 United States Federal Census
    Repository:
    Name: Ancestry.com
    
    Page: Precinct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll 2377; Page: 1B; ED: 4; Image: 653.0.
13. Abbrev: Obituary of W. E. Reid
    Title: Obituary of W. E. Reid