Hiram B. Ely's Childhood Days—In his own words

In early 1917, Hiram Baldwin Ely was in his final year as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. As his 21st birthday approached, he wrote that “it seems quite fitting that I should make a record of the occurrences of what might be called the first chapter of my life...before my mind begins to fill with busy thoughts which are bound to drive out many of the records of early biography.” Below are excerpts from the autobiography he wrote at that time.

Birth

It was drawing along toward mother's birthday, March 1, 1896, and father wondering what would be a suitable gift to present her when along I came and solved the problem. I was born, my father's seventh son (and he was his father's seventh) on the first day of March, 1896. I suppose I came in with the month like a lion, perhaps because I just missed the 29th of February, and I went out like a lamb which I have been ever since. My birthplace was Elycroft, Rutherford, N.J., the same house which has since been my home and which we have occupied for thirty years.

Early Childhood

Of my early childhood I do not remember more than a few incidents which seemed to impress themselves on my mind. One of the favorite stories they tell of me took place at the time of the Spanish War. Father, who was captain of Co. L N.G.N.J. [Nation Guard New Jersey], had gone to Jacksonville with his regiment and at that time I was just at the stage of saying things. Upon being asked where had papa gone, I was ever ready with the response, “Gone to Jacksonbill.”

I was a chubby little rascal with beautiful light curls. I had a quiet disposition and seldom created any disruption and especially was this so later on while I was attending the public schools. I was a trifle stubborn at times when I had made up my mind that I was right in a thing but this was merely indicative of a strong will not easily displaced.

While I was a little fellow I was always very fond of Clara Lord who later became my brother Addison's wife. I used to go to the Lord house with the children on their way to school and play there all day. I was one of the ribbon boys at her wedding.

I have also always been quite the favourite with my Aunt Grace Sandford. Many hours I would sit by her side and read to her from the Legends of Greek Heroes and other mythological and fabular collections.

Hiram with his father, Addison, at Niagra Falls, ca 1900

Starting School

I commenced school at the age of five, entering the first grade in the old Sylvan Street School. I spent four years in this school….The usual school happenings ensued during these four years. I stood quite well in my class and always got on well with the teachers. Some of the boys I remember in my class were Joe Hild, Sid Bell, Charlie Hand, Bert Curtis. There were girls, too; yes just two who struck my fancy in particular — pretty little Ethel Lyons and quiet blond-haired Clara Lincoln.

Grammar School

I was 9 years old when I entered the fifth grade in the Park Avenue School with Miss Walker as my teacher. I distinctly remember during this year a grand geography match between the two fifth grades and I was chosen to represent my section. This was a great day in my first great public appearance. During the course of the match I was asked if steel was an American product to which I replied that it was an American product and also an American occupation to a greater or less extent.

I passed successfully through my fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades….In the eighth grade I was chosen class president which position I held one year being succeeded by Ronald Brown who was more popular in an athletic way. At our graduation exercises in June 1909, I gave an essay on Robert Fulton.

The title of Hiram's essay was "Fulton's Invention".^[1] With Hiram's interest in mechanics, engineering and tinkering, it is not surprising that he chose someone such as Robert Fulton, an American engineer and inventor, for his essay. Fulton is widely credited with developing the world's first commercially successful steamboat, the North River Steamboat. In 1807, that steamboat traveled on the Hudson River with passengers from New York City to Albany and back again, a round trip of 300 nautical miles in 62 hours. The success of his steamboat changed river traffic and trade on major American rivers.^[2]

Hiram Ely (left) with his brother Harvey and possibly sisters Mabel and Emily

Lessons from Father

Growing produce for market

Father was always a great one to encourage industry and thrift among his seven sons and our place was sufficiently large — about twenty-five or thirty acres — to do this successfully. In the summer time we were given gardens to cultivate if we cared to do so — I once had a fine lot of peanut vines — and we were allowed to take out and market the general produce of the farm. For this purpose we had two ponies with the necessary carts. The produce would be prepared by the old gardener, or later, we were able to do this ourselves.

The Elycroft Dairy — Keeping the books

The Elycroft Dairy which originated from the several cows which were kept to supply the house with fresh milk and cream, soon grew to some size and required some attention. As much of its care as possible devolved upon the boys for therein lay a small business training.

For a period of five years I kept the accounts for the dairy, did the billing, and took care of the bank account. I never have regretted the business ability which this promoted in me, an ability which the average fellow does not obtain until he gets pushed out into the world. Why I know fellows right here at West Point who could not draw a check!

Rent collection & earning a commission

I often collected mother's monthly rentals for which service as well as all others I exacted a good commission but father was willing that we should have good commissions if we did our work well and saved our money.

High School

I quite enjoyed my four years in high school and the time went quickly enough as I was always busy. The school work was not particularly hard and generally required no study outside of school hours. During the four years I took English, 4 yrs., Math, 4 yrs. (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry), Latin, 2 yrs., History, 3 yrs. (Ancient, Modern & Med., U.S.), Physics, Chemistry, French....

We had our class parties and I soon found I must learn to dance in order to be in the social swim so I went to Miss Smith's Academy in Passaic every Monday night for one winter and learned to dance.

At one of our freshman parties we were directed to cease festivities at 11:30 which we did and got the chaperones well on their ways, then returned to the Tennis Club where we were having our dance and went at it again. Some sweet little angel reported the occurrence and we were all called up but nothing came of it. The girls formed a “Tiddle-de-dee” or something or other club and would throw a party to the fellows and then the latter would later reciprocate and we thus saw some very merry times. 

I used to like a New York party for two occasionally and would take one of the fair sex to dinner and the theater. I thought it was quite the thing to doll up in evening dress, high hat, and cane, and prance into New York and out on the last train. I think the young ladies who were favored, enjoyed it quite as much as I. 

Still another style of party was the big bobsled rides. I would steal out with our big trucking sled and team, gather up the couples and off we would go, over the snow. Occasionally, I heard from these parties as a result of some old fool casually remarking to father that he saw his team go through town at midnight the night before but I was never severely called to account. 

As to the girls — I was never wildly smitten with one more than another but would generally keep company with one for a long time for the simple reason that I would get well acquainted with her ways and saw no good reason for changing to another girl as long as the one minded her p’s and q’s.

The Ely trucking sled may have looked similar to this.
(AI altered image)

The Devil's Bicycle

One of my deviltries consisted in purchasing a motorcycle (Thor IV) — I did not seem to be able to get myself into trouble any other way, or to get my neck broken. I had some very speedy times with this “devil's bicycle” but I still seem to be here on earth with my neck perfectly whole and a present desire to enter the Aviation Corps.

On several occasions I doubled the risk of killing one person by carrying a passenger on my tandem seat. Brown was the only passenger whom I threw and this happened one day when a dog tried to run in the same part of the road as my front wheel and at the same time. Neither of us was hurt.

Clint Livingstone, the father of two children, went with me one Sunday for a long ride through northern Jersey and I am sure he thought more than once how lucky it was for his wife that he had plenty of life insurance. Dot Livingstone and Clara rode with me several times.

One thing which cut down the risk of my being meat for the undertaker was the fact that the machine was hors de combat about three-quarters of the time. I sold it after about six months.

[Dot Livingston was a classmate of Hiram’s. The 'Clara' Hiram mentions is most likely his sister, Clara.]

A 1912 Thor motorcycle — probably not the exact model Hiram owned

High School Graduation

I now come to my high school graduation in June 1913. I was in a class of about forty members who had ridden together the waves of primary and high school days for from four to twelve years. There were five fellows in the class — Brown, Wyatt, Foster, one other and myself.

Class Day and Graduation were always big events and were held in the City Hall. I took five different parts in the Class Day Play written by one of the class. I was also general electrical stage manager with Nat as my assistant; some good stage effects were produced, especially in the wizard scene and the 1913 in green & white lights.

The Graduation Exercises came on the night following Class Day. Brown, Foster and I presented an exposition of the electrolysis of water; I was spokesman.

Thus ended my school-boy career and what I might call the “school-day epoch” of my life. I was to leave all the boyhood friends and surroundings; my future was to be in the main spent away from home and amongst new surroundings and people.

The summer of 1913 I spent in doing practical work with the PSC [Public Service Corporation] whom I honored with my services.

Published 17 May 2026. Last updated 19 May 2026.