ELY, George

GEORGE ELY
Another Pioneer Gone
George Ely, an old pioneer of Brady Township, Williams County, died February 28th, 1889: aged 77 years. Mr. Ely was born in Northumberland County Pennsylvania in 1812 and with his parents came to Knox County Ohio in 1826, and in 1833 was married to Elizabeth Folck and in 1835 settled in Brady Township. He entered his land there in an almost unbroken forest, there
being only two or three settlers in the neighborhood that had preceded him.
He cleared up this tract of land for a home and has resided upon it ever since, a term of 54 years. His farm lies within a quarter of a mile of the Fulton County line and about one mile from the Franklin M.E. Church.
He raised a family of 7 children to manhood and womanhood upon this home and buried 4 children in their infancy. L.G. Ely of Franklin Twp. is the oldest of this family. Mrs. Riddle, now one of the teachers of our public school, is the 3rd daughter. The two oldest daughters live near the old homestead, in Williams County and the two youngest daughters live in Kansas. A son, George, was a member of Co. C, 100th Ohio Regt., and was killed in the battle at Atlanta, August 6th, 1864, at the age of 20 years.
Mr. Ely assisted in the organization of Brady Twp., being one of 12 voters at the first election held. He voted a Whig ticket – the other eleven voted the Democratic ticket. He has voted the Republican ticket since the organization of the party. With the single exception of one twp. election, he has voted at every election ever held in Brady Township. He subscribed for the first volume of the New York Tribune, when it was founded by Horace Greeley and continued his subscription to that paper without a break, up to and including the present year.
Although he never connected himself with any church, he was a believer in the atonement, a man of liberal religious views, of strict integrity and charitable almost to a fault. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.
During the earlier history of Brady Township, he held nearly all the different offices of the township. He also held the office of Commissioner and of County Auditor of Williams County.
Among the large concourse of people attending his funeral were many of the older settlers of the community. There were about 75 relatives in attendance. The funeral services were conducted by Revs. Baumgardner and Stockton, of West Unity and his remains laid to rest in the Franklin Cemetery. His wife, now 75 years of age and with whom he lived and enjoyed life a little over 56 years, remains with her children, to mourn his loss.