Col. Hiram Baldwin Ely

1896-1987

Col. Hiram Baldwin Ely
Hi, aged 35

Hi Ely was raised in a large family in Rutherford, New Jersey. He graduated third in his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1917. With his interests lying in acoustical and electrical engineering, he chose to serve in the ordnance branch and was assigned to the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia. There he was in charge of weapons fire control investigation. He subsequently became commander of the arsenal.

While at the arsenal, he invented and patented an exponential sound locator, a pre-radar device used for detecting approaching aircraft.

Following his retirment from the military in 1932, Hi worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City as a research executive. He was later recalled by the military, and served during World War II and the Korean War. He then returned to Bell Labs.

Much more information about Hiram will be added in time. This website is a work-in-progress.

Father: Capt. Addison Ely (1853-1928)
Mother: Emily Jane Johnson (1856-1949)

Spouse: Zelie Bancroft Crosby aka Zelie de Lussan Porter (1899-1962)

Children:

Hope Brewster Ely
Hiram Baldwin Ely, Jr (1921-2003)

Timeline

Note: Some events and people are not listed to protect the privacy of living persons.

1896
March 1 - Born on his mother's birthday in Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey. The 10th child of Capt. Addison Ely and Emily Jayne Ely (nee Johnson).
1913
Attends University of Michigan for a year.
1914
June 15 - Admitted as a cadet to West Point Military Academy. Appointed from New Jersey.
1917
August 30 - Graduates from West Point
1917
August 31 - Marries Zelie de Lussan Porter at West Point
1919
24 March - daughter Hope born.
1921
2 August - son Hiram, Jr, born.
1937
March - Buys farm property, located 3 miles from Flemington NJ, which they name 'Hi Hope Farm'.
1962
13 February - wife Zelie dies.
1987
April 11 - Dies in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, aged 91 years.