Did you ever find out info about Sarah Ward and John Ellis.
I found two people by this name in the 1880 census Etowah Alabama with a child named Eliminy born in November 1879.
I suspect this is the daughter of James M Word and Nancy Ann Jones (who died between 1865 and 1870).
In 1870 she is called Elizabeth and living with her father James Word in Etowah AL. She is 7yrs
In 06 Mar 1879 a John W Ellis married S L Word in Dekalb AL.
In 1880 She is called Sarah and is 17, living in Etowah next door to her sister Joanna who married Bingham Potter.
My grandmother called her "Lizzie" Word and said she married a John Ellis.
In the 1900 census I have a John W Ellis and Sarah E, 37, in Etowah, Chandler with 7 children at home. His age is wrong but I suspect it may be them just because of location.
Eliminy appears to be out of the house by then.

Sarah Elizabeth or Lizzie Ward/Word's grandmothers name was Emiline.

Does any of this sound familiar?