I am trying to find out what happened to my Great-grandfather, John J. Ellis.

John J. Ellis was born in Iowa in 1846 and married Sarah J. Thomas there. Then had three children in Van Buren County, Iowa, Mary E., Emily J. and John M. Ellis.

Sometime between 1872 and 1874 then family moved the a fram outside of Canton, McPherson County, Kansas. There three additional children were born, Harriett E., Nancy B. and Myrtle, between 1874 and 1881.

Sometime in about 1885 or 1886, the father, John J. Ellis left home one night and never returned. Shortly after this, Sarah J. Ellis packed her kids up and returned to Van Buren County Iowa.

I have one possible a lead. I have a photo taken by a photographer either from or in Norton, Kansas, which shows John J. Ellis and his friend Oscar Godown. Oscar was also born in Iowa and raised two farms over from the Ellis family.

The 1880 census shows the Ellis family and Oscar Godown living fairly close to each other in McPherson County. Research shows that Oscar Godown was found dead on his homestead in December of 1885 and was buried in the Jones Cemetery.

Since this is about the time John J. Ellis vanishes from record I am trying to find out is he was either involved with the Godwn murder or if he had been killed at the same time.

Any help on this would be great.

Rich Johnston