by Laurel | December 29th, 2011
29 December 2011
A look at Franklin W. Ely and his wife Harriet L. Adams, buried in Elmwood cemetery. There are other family inscriptions on this stone.
 F. W. Ely Tombstone |
 F. W. Ely Tombstone |
29 December 1938
Lumber Company President, Dead
Holyoke, Dec. 25 — Franklin Watson Ely of 166 Locust Street, for many years president of the Ely Lumber Company, died at his home this morning after a long illness. He was a direct descendant of the Nathaniel Ely who came to American from England in 1634 and became one of the original settlers in the valley, spending the latter part of his life in Springfield. Frankly Ely’s ancestors include many of the early settlers of Ireland Parish, now Holyoke.
Mr. Ely was born in Holyoke, June 26, 1855, son of Watson and Mary Moore Ely. He was educated in the public schools ad after his graduation from the Holyoke High School, was employed as a bank clerk in the Holyoke National Bank. He resigned after seven years and joined his father in the contracting, lumber and building business. The firm was then known as Watson Ely & Son. His father died in 1896 and the company was then incorporated as the Ely Lumber Company. He became president and continued in that position until is retirement in 1924.
Mr. Ely’s business career was marked with success and he was regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the city. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church and served in many capacities in the church organization.
On October 23, 1878, he married Harriet Louisa Adams, daughter of Rev. Robert J. and Eliza (Mason) Adams, a descendant of James Adams who settled in Londonderry, NH in 1743. There are three sons surviving, Robert W. Ely, purchasing agent of the National Blank Book Company; Ralph A. Ely of Needham, and Raymond Ely of Townsend.
December 25, 1924
Mrs. Franklin W. Ely
Mrs. Hattie L. Ely, 68, wife of Franklin W. Ely, died today at her home, 296 Locust Street. She was born in Wallingford, CT, coming to Holyoke 55 years ago. her father was Rev. Robert J. Adams, at one time pastor of the Second Baptist Church. Dr. Adams was pastor of this church when it changed its location from down near the Holyoke Water Power Company office to its new building at the present location. She leaves three sons, Robert W. and Raymond of Holyoke and Ralph A. of Boston; also one grandchild, one brother Charles R. Adams of Boston and one sister Mrs. G. D. Parker of Boston. The funeral will be held at the home Saturday afternoon at 2. Rev. Dr. J. C. Sycamore will officiate and burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.
Text adapted from The Springfield Republican; images from my personal archive.
