In the 1860 Summit County Census Elisha is listed as age 33 living in Richfield Twp., a painter and married with one daughter and four sons, his worth is $300. In the 1870 Cuyahoga County, OH Census he is living in Cleveland with wife and two more sons and another daughter, with two of his other children, his occupation is listed as coal dealer.

 

Two years following the tragic death of President Abraham Lincoln, Forest City Masonic Lodge was born. Sponsored by Bigelow Lodge # 243, a dispensation was granted by Grand Master Thomas Sparrow on March 28, 1867. Two days later, Forest City Lodge U.D. held it first meeting in the Masonic Hall on Franklin Street and adopted a code of By-Laws.

The first meeting was presided over by Elisha T. Ellsworth, a bookkeeper, and a Past Master of Meridian Sun Lodge # 226, located in West Richfield, Ohio. Worshipful Brother Ellsworth was the first Master of Forest City Lodge to be elected and installed to this office following the granting of a charter to the Lodge on October 16, 1867, by the Grand Lodge of Ohio at its Cincinnati meeting. He served as Master of Ellsworth Lodge in 1868, 1874 & 1874.