My Genealogy Hound

Edmund Ely, one of the most prominent citizens and leading business men of Davisburg, Oakland County, engaged in a mercantile business which amounts to something like $30,000 a year, has been a resident of the State since 1876. Mr. Ely was born in 1836 in Gainesville, Wyoming County, New York, and is a son of Jabez and Cornelia (Patterson) Ely, the former of whom was born at Lyme, Connecticut, and the latter in Onondaga County, New York, a daughter of William Patterson.

The grandfather of Mr. Ely, also named Jabez, was a Revolutionary soldier. He died at Gainesville, New York, in 1840. He was a native of Connecticut, where he was married and where he reared his family. The father of our subject served in the War of 1812. His vocation was farming and the whole of his active life was spent in the State of New York. In his early political life he was a Whig, but became identified with the Republican party after 1852. The nine children born to Jabez and Cornelia (Patterson) Ely were the following: Denison J., who died at Central City, Colorado; Mrs. Laura Fisher, of Tuscola, Michigan; William P., who died at Gainesville, New York; Mrs. Mary E. Brown, of South Bend, Indiana; James, who died at Gainesville, New York; Edmund, of this sketch; Ralph, a locomotive engineer of Chicago; Mrs. Martha C. Green, of Chicago; and Elizabeth, who died at Gainesville, New York.

Edmund Ely was reared on a farm and remained at home until 1860, when he went to Elmira, New York, and there entered into the nursery business with the firm of R. H. Close, with which he continued for three years and then changed to the nursery firm of W. E. & T. Smith of Geneva, New York. The death of his wife then changed his plans, and in 1864 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering the 18th New York Light Artillery, later being transferred to the 25th New York Light Artillery, and served under Captain Southworth until the close of the war, being stationed a great part of the time at Brasher City, now known as Morgan City. He returned then to Gainesville, married and settled down to farming, remaining there until he came to Michigan, reaching Davisburg, January 7, 1876, accompanied by his wife and three children. For 10 years he served as State agent for the well known nursery firm of W. E. & T. Smith, and then embarked in his present enterprise. After three years alone, he admitted his son Francis G. as partner, under the firm name of Ely & Son, and together they have built up the largest general mercantile business in their vicinity. Their full and complete stock covers dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, drugs, etc., and they also handle coal, salt and brick. The success of this business has depended upon the energy and industry of Mr. Ely, supplemented by the efforts of his son and partner, who was appointed postmaster in July, 1898. The business methods of the firm have won the confidence of the public and both Mr. Ely and son are held in the highest esteem in the neighborhood.

Mr. Ely was married first to Marie E. Quigley, a native of New York, and one son, Alton A., was born to this marriage, who died in Denver. Mr. Ely’s second marriage was to Helen F. Granger, who was born in Oneida County, New York, a daughter of Gideon Granger. The two children of this marriage are: Francis G., and Mrs. Eva M. Brownell, the latter of whom lives in Detroit and has two daughters, — Helen E. and Ruth. In politics Mr. Ely is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the town’s capitalists, owning his large double brick store building and a very attractive home. He attributes much of his success in life to never going into debt.