From History of Northumberland County, published by J. L. Floyd & Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1911; page 929:

ELLIS F. ORNER has been engaged in merchandising since he retired from mine work, and he has a well established business at Gowen City, in Cameron township, where he has been located since 1899. Mr. Orner was born in Adams county, Pa., seven miles from Gettysburg, son of Jeremiah Orner. The family is of German origin. His grandfather, who lived and died in Adams county, had children as follows: Amos, Samuel, Jonas, Solomon, Israel, Felix, Jeremiah and Mary.

Jeremiah Orner was a carpenter by trade and worked by the day in Adams county, where he made his home for some time. He died April 27, 1905, at the home of his son Ellis in Gowen City, Northumberland county, aged seventy-five years, three months, twenty-three days. He is buried in the Reformed cemetery at Gowen City. During the Civil war he served in the Union army as a member of Company I, 165th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and after the war he never fully recovered his health. Removing with his family to Shamokin, he followed mining for some time. Mr. Orner was a member of the G.A.R. He married Catharine Hartzel, daughter of Henry Hartzel, of Adams county, Pa., who belonged to a prominent family of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Orner had the following children: Ellis F.; Henry, who is living in Shamokin; and Clara, who married William Gephart of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Ellis F. Orner attended public school in Adams county. He remained with his father, moving to Shamokin with the family, and was employed at the mines also, though not at regular mine work, running an engine most of the time. He was thus engaged for a period of eighteen years. In 1899 Mr. Orner began the mercantile business at Gowen City, where he has since been established. He has not only made an excellent name as a business man but has served his fellow citizens in various public capacities, having been tax collector and school director of the township. Socially he is well known in this locality, belonging to the Odd Fellows and the Red Men, the latter organization holding its meetings in the hall above his store; the Red Men's Band, which includes three of his sons in its membership, also meets there. In political opinion he is a Democrat, in religion a Lutheran.

Mr. Orner married Matilda Koons, daughter of Michael Koons, of Northumberland county, and to them have been born the following children: Olive (married to Amos Frederick), Clara, O. Ellsworth, Harvey, Charles, William and Evelina.