After the trees and brush were cleared in May of 2019, the cemetery was visible from the road. It is located on the eastern edge of the former Ellis Family Farm on East Cayuga Reservation Lot 45. Surrounded by a black metal fence, it sits approximately 400 feet north of West Genesee Street Road, about 700 feet west of the intersection of Blanchard Road, situated in corn fields owned by Oakwood Dairy and O’Hara Land Enterprises [January 2020].

Stone markers are visible for Zillah Ellis (died April 26, 1840; stone broken across the age) and Gideon Ellis (died October [broken] 1841, age 82y 4m 15d).

There is a metal marker placed on a large stone slab next to Gideon and Zillah’s markers: Gideon Ellis, Capt. Smalley’s Co., Revolutionary War. May 23, 1759; Oct 7, 1841.

Several smaller stones have been eroded so they are broken and illegible.

There is a large rock with the following:
In memory of the Gideon Ellis Family
Gideon 1749-1841;
Zilla Merrill 1760-1840;
Kimble 1799-1813;
Samuel 1781-1830;
Desire 1783-1860;
Gideon 1785-1813;
Calvin 1788-1813;
Lyman 1790-1791;
Walter 1792-1813;
Reuben 1794-1830;
Lyman (2) 1797-1837;
Abigail 1800-;
Lewis Harvey 1801-1868;
Darius 1801-1804.

The arrival of John Ellis in Plymouth Colony was the beginning of this Ellis family in America. These pioneers made their way to Aurelius in 1804. The dirt-rutted road in front of their farm became Genesee Turnpike [Note: This road is referred to as Seneca Turnpike in the deeds]. Living on the first major highway to come from East to West, they had a front row seat to history as the West expanded. While working their fields, horse and oxen pulling heavy wagon loads, men driving flocks and herds, and the Stage Line all passed bringing current news of the day. This tiny cemetery was the scene of extreme sadness over the years. The family gathered here four times during the dreary months of January and February of 1813 when the typhoid epidemic took four sons. Three more died between 1830-37. In the spring of 1840, children and grandchildren drove over these greening fields in horse drawn wagons to say good-bye to their grandmother. Finally, after the fall harvest and the year of 1841 was drawing to a close, 82 year-old Gideon took his place with his family.