Ellwanger was born in Großheppach, Kingdom of Württemberg on December 2, 1816, and emigrated to the United States in 1835.

Between 1872 and 1913, the firm developed the area now known as Linden-South Historic District on the oldest part of the nursery.

[3][4] Ellwanger and Barry donated part of their property to the City of Rochester to form Highland Park.

Ellwanger died at his home in Rochester on November 26, 1906, and is buried across the street from his former nursery in Mount Hope Cemetery.

[2] The Ellwanger family monument was designed there by famous Italian artist Nicola Cantalamessa Papotti.