| ELY - DEATH Mrs. Juliette M. Ely died at her residence in thisvillage, Friday afternoon, December 18th, after an illness ofbut few days. As her death removes an old resident of thisvillage, and one who has been long and well-known in a largecircle here and elsewhere, a brief sketch of her life will be ofinterest to very many: Mrs. Ely was born in Owego, Tiogacounty, N.Y., April 8th, 1807. Her father was William "Camp,one of four brothers who were pioneer settlers and merchants inOwego. Their business required an annual trip to new York city;and when returning from such a trip in 1825, William Camp tookpassage at Wilkes-Barre on board a steam boat which had beenfitted up to ply between that place and Owego. This was thetrial trip of the boat, and proved disastrous. The boiler burstand injured several passengers, among them Mr. Camp, and he diedin a few days. Mrs. Ely's mother was Abigail Whittlesey, theonly daughter of Captain Asaph Whittlesey, who, with his commandof forty men, was killed at the Wyoming massacre in June, 1778.But before the battle began Captain Whittlesey placed hisdaughter, who was a babe of fourteen months, on a raft in chargeof a hired man, and sent them down the river. Her life was thussaved, and she was subsequently taken to Connecticut and rearedby her father's relatives, and was married to William Camp aboutthe year 1800. Mrs. Ely was eighteen years of age at the timeof her father's death and although her family was in comfortablecircumstances, she determined to care for herself. Having builtand fitted up a building she opened an infant school in Owego.This she carried on successfully for several years, when shegave it into the care of her sister, and spent two years in NewYork city in the special study of music and drawing. On herreturn to Owego she met Prof. Joseph M. Ely, of Springfield,Massachussets, a graduate of Yale College, who had become thePrincipal of Owego Academy, and they were married in 1834. In1837 they removed to New York where Prof. Ely opened a selectschool for boys which he conducted successfully for a number ofyears, numbering among his patrons many of the leading men ofthe city, and among his pupils some who afterwards becameprominent. In 1861 Prof. Ely removed to Waverly, N.Y., and thefollowing year he came to Athens and took charge of the academyhere, in connection with which was a select boarding school. Inthis position he continued until his death in November, 1873When Prof. Ely took charge of the schools in Athens, Mrs. Elybecame associated with him in the care of the primarydepartment. It was therefore in her life and work here that sheprobably exerted her widest influence as a teacher-an influencewhich all her pupils felt, and have testified to in theirsubsequent life. As a woman, Mrs. Ely possessed many verystrong and marked traits of character. She was naturallyendowed with a clear mind, and was accustomed to think forherself. She formed no opinions hastily, but when formed it wasbut natural that she should hold them tenaciously. She was awoman of positive convictions, and with a strong sense of duty.She gave her heart to Christ when she was a girl and united withthe Presbyterian church in Owego. While living in New York shewas a member of the University Place Presbyterian church ofwhich the Rev. Dr. Potts was pastor, and in 1862 she and herhusband united with the Presbyterian church in this village.Christianity exerted a powerful influence on her whole life andcharacter. She studied her Bible, and her belief of itsteachings and her faith in God were as firm as the hills. Allof her faculties were remarkably preserved until the last.Although more than four score years of age at the time of herdeath, she was young in spirit. She lived in the present andnot in the past. She kept abreast of the times in this stirringage, and was interested in the movements of the times. This wasespecially true of all religious movements, both in our own andforeign lands. She read much and rejoiced in every thing thatpromoted the cause of Christ in all churches, and in all lands.Her last illness was short but painful, and death was met withcalmness and joy. She prepared for it as one would prepare fora long anticipated journey to a brighter and better home-as adischarged soldier would lay down his arms to return to hishome. Of the seven children which were born to her, three areliving, viz: Mr. George Ely, of New York; Joseph M. Ely and Mrs.George A. Kinney, of this village. These were all with her whenshe died, and at the funeral which was attended on Mondayafternoon. The services were conducted by her pastor, the Rev.W. H. Sawtelle. The interment was in the Tioga Point Cemetery,beside her husband and children. |