Ellen A. (Almeda/Almira) Cantonwine was the daughter of John Cantonwine and his first wife, Caroline (Denslow) Cantonwine. Ellen was the granddaughter of Charles and Mary Magdalena (Scholl) Cantonwine.

Charles, the patriarch of the Cantonwine family, immigrated to America from Prussia in 1806, arriving in Philadelphia, Penn., aboard the ship Orlando. The ship's passenger list shows "Chr. Kuntentwine, single man." The name Kuntentwine later evolved to Cantonwine, and Charles appears to be the only surnamed Kuntentwine/Cantonwine to immigrate to America. Eight or so years after his arrival in Philadelphia, in about 1814, Charles married Mary Magdalena Scholl, daughter of Charles Jacob & Margaret (Fuhr) Scholl, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania.

Ellen married James Doak Nash on April 17, 1871 in Lake County, Colorado (the county was later divided up into two counties--Lake and Chaffee). In the next twenty some years, they produced twelve children: Pierce Eugene "Percy", Josephine, Judson D., Jessie C. (m. Thomas Bassham), Mary E. (m. Harvey Chase), Ruth I. (m. Hartsel Abram Hiner, Robert H., Mildred M. (m. John T. Mosher), Minnie E. (m. Charles W. McKay), Georgia V. (m. ____Knowlton), Arch C., and Fritz (per June Shaputis' book, "Where the Bodies Are in Central Chaffee County, Colorado," p. 79).

Doak died at age 52, when his youngest daughter, Georgia, was only six. Ellen died at age 75 and is buried in Elmwood cemetery. Since there is no headstone for the plot identified as her burial place, one wonders if there ever was a headstone there or whether it may have disappeared over the years.

Daily Sentinel [Grand Junction, Mesa Co., CO], March 3, 1925, p. 9
Friends were sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Ellen Almeda Nash Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George [Georgia?] Hindman on North Maple street. Mrs. Nash was born Feb. 5th, 1850 and passed away at 10:30 March 1st, 1925. Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Miller Undertaking parlors, with Rev. Estlow of the Methodist church in charge. The remains were laid to rest in Elmwood cemetery.