My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM P. ELY. The Elys are an old family in the counties of Bucks and Montgomery, being of English descent. The ancestors of the family were members of the Society of Friends, who it may be presumed came originally from the cathedral town of Ely in England.

William Penn Ely is the youngest child of David and Abbie (Pugh) Ely. He was born on the Captain Knox homestead, of Revolutionary fame, in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1837. David Ely (father) was born on the Whitpain homestead in 1795, and died in 1863. He was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, and on reaching manhood turned his attention to farming, which he followed for a number of years. He then established a shoe store in Norristown, conducting that business successfully for a number of years. He then removed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he established an agricultural implement store. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican, exerting himself in behalf of the party principles. He was a man who was interested in all that was likely to benefit the community in which he lived, and was much respected by all who knew him. He had a birthright membership in the Society of Friends. He married Miss Abbie Pugh, of the state of Maryland. Their children were: Alice, who married Levi Streeper, (deceased), Emeline, Jonathan, Lewis, Hannah, Esther, Jane, George W., and William P., subject of this sketch.

Thomas Ely (grandfather) was a native of Whitpain township. He received an education such as was to be had in the schools of the vicinity, and on leaving school entered on the occupation of farming, which he followed very successfully all his life. He married Hannah Warner, of an old family of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, connected with the Society of Friends. Their children were Thomas and David (father).

William P. Ely was educated at the old Oak street public school of Norristown, and then took a course at Treemount Seminary, the well known Norristown school. On leaving that institution he entered the establishment of Fowler & Wells, Philadelphia, remaining there for several years, as a clerk. He then returned to Norristown, and became engaged in the grocery store of William H. Jones, where the opera house now stands, and then removed to Whitemarsh township and took a position as clerk in the general store of Streeper & Yerkes, at Spring Mill. In 1858 his brother-in-law Levi Streeper purchased the store, and Mr. Ely became associated with him under the firm name of Streeper & Ely. This arrangement was continued up to 1867, when Mr. Ely became sole proprietor and continued up to 1872, and then associated himself with Thomas W. Morris and continued thus to 1886. He has since lived in retirement at Spring Mill, where he owns a beautiful home.

Mr. Ely married, January 8, 1862, Miss Elizabeth Lentz, born November 14, 1838, daughter of Girard and Margaret Lentz, farmers, residing in Whitemarsh township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ely are: Herman G., born December 30, 1862; Margaret A., born December 21, 1866, died November 7, 1869; and M. Gertrude, born March 18, 1871, died November 6, 1882.

In politics Mr. Ely is a thoroughgoing Republican. He has held the position of school director in Whitemarsh township since 1868. He has been township tax collector since 1888. He also holds the position of town clerk. He is treasurer of the township school board, and was for a term of years secretary and treasurer of the Spring Mill Building and Loan Association, a flourishing institution. Fraternally Mr. Ely is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through the different chairs of the order. In religious faith he affiliates with St. Mark’s Lutheran church, of Conshohocken, having been an elder therein ever since its organization.

Mr. Ely is a man who is very highly respected by the community in which he lives. Thoroughly upright and straightforward in all his dealings and endowed with excellent judgment, he is constantly called upon to settle estates, and to act as an adviser in important business matters. His decisions are according to right and justice, in which all concerned usually acquiesce, as he possesses in a remarkable degree the confidence of all who know him.