Simon Ellsworth was the son of Harmon and Catherine Bauman Fritz. He was born in Dixon Illinois but moved with his family to Iowa.

He married Myrta Alice Nims in Mills Co. Iowa on Dec.6 1891. They had 15 children.

Simon moved his family, farm animals and possessions by train to the new farmland in Northern Colorado. He had been scammed by property speculators to buy a small house on alkaline dry land where he made the best of a bad situation. He bought a water wagon to haul water to the cistern he was led to believe was a well. He grew crops to fee his dairy cattle where no one thought possible. His wife made butter and other milk products to sell at restaurants in town. His family worked in the beet fields to make ends meet. The boys were housed down the road in a barn he rented to make room for his growing family.

Simon moved his family when he recouped his losses to a better farm, the Plummer place nearer to Fort Collins. This property had a school house on the corner of the lot that stands today. (The farm is now Buffalo Run Apartments, where Simon's gg grandaughter lived while attending school.)

Charley, Simon's eldest child had married lived next door on a farm with his 4 children when a tornado came from the North, imploding Charley and Essie's house and skimming by that of Simon. Mytra was horrified, watching from the edge of the storm cellar. To her relief, Charley and his family popped up from their safe hiding place in the irrigation ditch between their places. Simon had this family living with him until they could find a new home. To Simon, family was very important and his was very close.

Myrta died of breast cancer 5 years after the birth of her twins, Alvin and Alice. One twin, Alice, died within a year of birth. Simon had to raise the children by himself and with help from the older children. He sent his boys to work to learn trades at farms and ranches.

Bessie went into town to care for an elderly lady while she finished school at Fort Collins High School (now Lincoln Center). Doris went away to attend Beauty School. She married Harold Truax and they lived in Lingle WY. Elsie had married Paul Lang and by that time, they were living in Denver. Alma was the last at home but she married Elbert Alexander and had 3 children. Alma later married Bill Mefford and resided on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco.

Charley, Essie and their family moved to Cheyenne as he worked on the railroad. Vernon joined the Navy and was in Europe during WWI. He returned to Ft. Collins to marry Jenice Canfield. Rodney had lost an eye but drove the water wagon for the next 60 years, working at CSU where Simon had him learn to do maintenance. Rodney married 3 times; 2 during the senior years of his life. Alfred and Merrill went to Oklahoma where Alfred operated heavy machinery and married school teacher, Kate; Merrill was in the Army in WWII and worked in the oil fields. Later in life, he married Georgia. Ernest became a farmer and had a place near his father. He was an artist and retired to Oregon to paint. His daughter and grand daughter farmed in the Fort Collins area where his great grandsons still ranch in the shadow of the "Aggie A" and Horsetooth reservoir.

Ellis also followed the trains, working in Green River where he met and married local girl, Mary. Clark, Arlie and Alvin all went to Wyoming. Clark stayed on the ranch where he was sent to learn ranching. He married Gertrude and he owned the 14 Ranch and died there 93. Arlie joined the Army and served in WWII, married Verna Helling and worked as a mechanic for the State of WY with his youngest brother and nephew. Alvin also was in the army and married an Alice (who is still living.

Simon was interested in Geology and collected specimens for the local museum. He was accepted to work on the Panama Canal until the officials discovered the man was a senior citizen. Simon left his grandchildren with a love of geology. His great grandson, John Montgomery studied geology at UW and worked for the state of WY, later going into Petroleum and Water Law. His great grand daughter taught Earth Science, keeping much of Simon's original mineral and rock collection.

His children loved nature and being outdoors. They farmed, hunted, fished and made things (crafts, carpentry and other woodwork). The summer gathering of the children of Simon and Myrta continued as he wished, long after his death and that of most of his children. Simon and Myrta's remains rest in Grandview Cemetery, where most of their children, 2 of Simon's brothers, and many grandchildren also rest.