Rebecca Ells family

Rebecca (nee Kinsman) Ells lived and worked on a farm in Port Williams with her sons Manning and William. While her husband, Cyrus Ells, worked in western Canada, she ran the household, tended to the gardens, and the handled of all farm transactions. Her diary reflects that Rebecca sold eggs, poultry, strawberries, cream, farm produce at the market, and butter to supplement the farm income, as well as cleaned granaries and tended to the livestock.

In 1911, Manning and his father became partners of the firm Cyrus & Manning Ells, in the apple and strawberry growing and exporting business. They became known as one of the largest growers and shippers of strawberries in the Annapolis Valley. Later, they expanded the business and went into poultry farming and egg production. The business was later sold to A.C.A. Cooperative of New Minas.

The seven diaries and one account book of Rebecca Ells and a farm journal kept by Manning Ells highlight farming life at the turn of the 20th century.