Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Ely, Henry P.
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Buckingham Township


HENRY P. ELY surveyor and conveyancer, P.O. Lahaska, was 
born in New Hope, Bucks county, and is a son of Thomas and 
Mary Ely, and nephew of Henry P. Ely.  His father is a 
native of Bucks county, and his mother of Chester county.  
The Ely family was originally English.  The original name is 
De Ely.  The pioneer of the family was Joshua Ely, who 
emigrated from Dunnham, Nottingham county, England, and 
settled at Trenton in 1685.  In 1738, his grandson, Joshua 
Ely, settled in Solebury township, Bucks county, and the 
Elys of said place are his lineal descendants.  He was quite 
a prominent member of the Society of Friends, being an elder 
and minister of the gospel.  He died in 1783.  Jonathan Ely, 
born in 1804, was a descendant of his and was quite a 
prominent politician in his time, having been elected as 
assemblyman in 1850, 1851 and 1852, and state senator in 
1855.  He died in 1864.  Dr. Edward Ely, his son, born in 
1827, was an able and successful physician. He was consul at 
Bombay, India, during President Polk's administration, and 
died in 1858.  Among some of the illustrious descendants of 
this family are the names of Dr. Henry P. Ely and Dr. 
William Ely, who removed from the county; Rev. George Ely, 
and his son, Rev. George W. Ely, William C. Ely, the poet, 
Hugh Ely, clockmaker and musician, Joseph S. Ely, who was 
elected high sheriff in 1857; Samuel L. Ely, who was elected 
to the same office in 1878, and General John Ely, who served 
during the late rebellion. Thomas Ely, the father of our 
subject, was a farmer, and was the father of eight children: 
 Eleanor E., Howard (deceased), Lucy, Jeremiah, Mahlon, 
Henry P.,Letitia, and Deborah (deceased).  Henry P. was 
reared on the homestead farm until he was 18 years of age, 
when he became desirous of learning some other vocation.  
With a determination to that effect, he began the study of 
surveying, and at the age of 21 years he had accomplished 
his object sufficiently to enter into the business himself, 
which he did very successfully, and has followed surveying 
since that time.  He also carries on farming in Buckingham 
township.  He is an intelligent and enterprising citizen, 
with a liberal view to public enterprises.