Ellsworth Township was first settled in 1856 by Dr. Vincent P. Kennedy in June, Thadden R. Webb in July, and Dr. Russell Whiteman. The first child born was named George R. Whiteman, and he was born to Dr. Whiteman in 1857. The second births were twin boys, Frankie and Frederick, to William H. Greenleaf and his wife Maria in June 1860. The two boys were stillborn. The second death (actually third?) was a man named Halstead in 1862. The first schoolhouse was built in 1859, and the first teacher was 16 years old Lydia B. Angier. The first lawyer was Mark Warren, who came to Rice City in about 1860. Ellsworth was originally attached to Rice City in 1858, before it was organized as a separate township on September 1, 1868. The first sermon preached in Greenleaf was by Rev. J. C. Whitney, a Presbyterian minister.