This story relates to: Addison Ely (1853-1928), Emily (Johnson) Ely (1856-1949) and Hiram Ely (1896-1987)
1917 Ely Family Portrait
On August 30, 1917, Hiram Ely graduated from West Point and got married—all on the same day! His parents and all of his brothers and sisters travelled to West Point for this special occasion. It was probably not often that the entire family were gathered together at the same time and place. They took the opportunity to have the family photographed.
It was a photograph the family came to treasure, as within 11 years of it being taken, three family members passed away. The first was Addison Jr who in January 1920 took ill, was hospitalized and then died after an operation, aged 44.[1]
Then in November 1927, Seth died aged 43 from a cerebral hemorrhages brought on, the doctors believed, by overwork.[2] Four months later, Addison Sr died unexpectly at the aged of 74.
Unfortunately, the image below is not good quality because it is a scan of an old paper photocopy and not of the photograph itself.
The Ely Family: Addison & Emily Ely and their ten children
West Point, August 30, 1917
Back row: Harvey, Addison, Jr., Leon, Mabel, Seth, Emily, Dana.
Front row: James, Clara, Addison (father), Emily (mother), Hiram.
Footnotes & Sources
Published 16 July 2023. Minor edit 6 May 2026.