Anobva adzokera kuNew York kunopinda Cherry Valley Seminary. Asati apedza kudzidza, akatamira kuGlenville, New York kuti anoshanda mufekitari. Ellwood akatanga kufarira kurima chibage chinonzi broom uye akabudirira mubhizimisi racho, achishandisa varume 130. Akaroora Eleanor Vedder muna 1849; vaiva nevana vatanhatu. Akanga ari nhengo yeNew York State Assembly (Schenectady Co.) muna 1851 seWhig. Ellwood akadanwa mumiriri ku1856 Republican National Convention
, bato raizomuratidza kwoupenyu hwake hwose. Akadzokera kuSycamore muna 1857, achibatanidzwa mukutengeserana kwemidziyo, kunyanya michina yekurima. Akaisa mari mumakambani omunharaunda aiita zvokushandisa zvepapurazi uye akava mumwe wevanhu vakapfuma zvikuru munyika yacho. Ellwood akaenderera mberi nezvishuvo zvake zvematongerwe enyika seMubatsiri weU.S. we4th Congressional District yeIllinois meya wokutanga weSycamore.