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Death & Obituary of S. Mills Ely on Wednesday, May 5th, 1909 in Binghamton, New York.

May 5, 1909 By admin

The Binghamton Press
Thursday, May 6, 1909
Photo Credit: Joe Danvers
(January 2021)

Death of S. Mills Ely (Wednesday, May 5^th, 1909)

Binghamton Loses Citizen Whose Devotion to Principle Was Most Prominent

GAVE TO MANY CHARITIES

Contributed to Several Libraries, and Recently Gave Ely Park to the City

S. Mills Ely, whose serious illness for some weeks past has been a matter of deep concern throughout the city, died mast night at his residence on Henry Street. The end came at 9:40 o’clock. Just two weeks before, at the same hour, Mr. Ely was taken aboard the private car in which he was brought from his Winter home in Maitland, Florida, in the hope that the more invigorating northern atmosphere might make possible a recovery which seemed impossible in the South.

The Binghamton Press
Thursday, May 6, 1909
Photo Credit: Joe Danvers
(January 2021)

Mr. Ely’s death removes a man whose long and successful business career was unmarred by any suggestion of unfairness and whose charities were widespread and wisely bestowed. In writing of his character an intimate friend of the family said:

“To speak of his character is hardly necessary in this community, where his life was an open book, known and read by all, and his inherent modesty and simplicity forbid any words of fulsome praise. But truth compels the notice of a detailed thoughtfulness and a most unusual grasp not only in business matters, but in every path of friendship and benevolence, with a generosity as constant as the calls made on it. Still, after all, the deep interest and devotion of his life, after his family, was in his church to which he unceasingly gave of his means, his time, and his prayers.”

The Binghamton Press
Thursday, May 6, 1909
Photo Credit: Joe Danvers
(January 2021)

Mr. Ely was born in Chester, Connecticut of English ancestry, in October, 1837, and came to Binghamton, where his life has since been spent, 15 years later. His first employment was with Charles McKinney, in a general store, and later in the coal business. With S. McKinney and E.P. McKinney, he formed a partnership in the grocery business, withdrawing in 1873 to establish the wholesale grocery house which continues. The partnership with E. F. Leighton, which continued unbroken until last October, was formed in 1876.

True to Principle.

His business was conducted with absolute conscientiousness and absolute devotion to what he thought was right. Mr. Ely did not use, or believe in the use of tobacco, and the firm of S. Mills Ely & Co., considering principle before profit, never has carried or sold tobacco, or smokers’ supplies, though this is an important and very profitable line with all wholesale grocers. Persons familiar with the trade do not recall another wholesale grocery house which does not carry tobacco.

The Binghamton Press
Thursday, May 6, 1909
Photo Credit: Joe Danvers
(January 2021)

Mr. Ely was a Senior Elder at the First Presbyterian Church. He united with the church during the pastorate of Dr. Goodrich, and was for many years an officer of the church, being deacon for some time, and an elder for the last 30 years. Aside for his liberal support of the church, Mr. Ely has bestowed many charities, which he administered with the sagacity of a man of affairs, tempered with a tenderness which led him to conceal even from his most intimate associates his activities in this direction.

Many Charities.

Among other charities with which, because of their public nature his connection was known, Mr. Ely gave liberally of his time and money to the Fresh Air Fund, and always entertained a dozen city children during the Summer at Mount Prospect. He was treasurer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and, when the new Y.M.C.A was being canvassed, he was one of the most energetic supporters of the project.

Mr. Ely gave a library to his native town of Chester, Connecticut, and contributed liberally for a library in Port Dickerson. In Maitland, Florida where he had an orange grove and Winter home, Mr. Ely and another gentleman made possible the erection of a fine library.

Soon after he embarked in business for himself 32 years ago, Mr. Ely began to acquire property on Mount Prospect, After the B. Fay Mills revival meetings 15 years ago, he bought the lumber with which the tabernacle, in which the meetings were held, had been constructed, and used this to erect Ely Tower on Mount Prospect as a memorial of the religious revival. His recent gift to the city of Ely Park, comprising 140 acres on the summit of Mount Prospect, is a recent evidence of his public spirit. The only public office that Mr. Ely held was that of school commissioner, which he held for three years.

Mr. Ely was married in October, 1867 to Miss Mary Hawley, who died last December. Surviving are a sister and a daughter.

Before his death Mr. Ely requested that his funeral services be simple, and in deference to his wishes, the family requests that friends omit moral tributes. Services will be held at the house tomorrow afternoon and Fr. Lawrence of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate.

At the meeting this afternoon, the employed officers of the Young Men’s Christian Association of the State of New York, in conference assembled at Binghamton, would unanimously record the profound impression by the life of of the late S. Mills Ely. His deep appreciation for the needs of men, his faith in our Heavenly Father, his confidence in his fellow citizens, his courage, and his consecration, made him a leader in establishing a work in Binghamton which can not fail at being most effective at elevating the young manhood of the community.

“The work of Mr. Ely in the encouragement and support of efforts in behalf of young men has been felt beyond Binghamton and has been an inspiration to the Association throughout the State and the Nation.

“We unite with the city of Binghamton in mourning the departure of this useful citizen, with the churches and the Young Men’s Christian Association in the loss of this earnest follower of the Master, and we deeply sympathize with his family at this time of sorrow.

(Signed)

“Frank G. Banister, John W. Cook, Herbert P. Lansdale”

“Committee.”

ALL PHOTO CREDIT:

The Binghamton Press

Thursday, May 6, 1909

Photo Credit: Joe Danvers

(January 2021)

Obituary Transcript by Andy Reistetter

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Ely Park Honoree: S. Mills Ely; Namesake of Binghamton’s Ely Park Golf Course!

May 5, 1909 By admin

Samuel Mills Ely, Benefactor of Ely Park Golf Course. Photo Credit: Broome County Historical Society

Samuel Mills Ely—For nearly half a century Samuel Mills Ely was a resident of Binghamton, New York, and during that period there were few who contributed more largely to the life of the city than did he. Founder of one of the most important wholesale grocery houses of the city, and identified with various business interests, he demonstrated the often disputed fact that large business success and strict adherence to the principles of the “Golden Rule” are not incompatible. He gave to the community not only the economic advantage accruing from the establishment of a large and important business enterprise, but the inspiring example of a man who, even in his business connections, remains staunchly true to the principles of Christianity.

Samuel Mille (S. Mills) Ely was born in Chester. Connecticut, at the Ely homestead, October 24, 1837, son of Richard and Caroline (Buck) Ely, the former a descendant of the early settlers of Lyme, Connecticut, but born in Essex, Connecticut, August 6, 1798, who was a farmer and prominent in the local public affairs of the town, holding various offices, and the latter born May 5, 1799.

Letterhead of S. Mills Ely & Company. The building is still standing at the corner of Prospect Ave, and N. Depot St. across the railroad tracks from the Kilmer Building in downtown Binghamton. Photo Credit: Broome County Historical Society

Samuel Mills Ely received his education in the public schools of Chester, and later became a student in a grammar school at Deep River, Connecticut. When his school training was completed, he began his active career in the employ of his uncle, Hon. Charles McKinney.

In 1865 he formed a partnership with S. & E. P. McKinney and engaged in the grocery business in Binghamton, which connection he maintained until 1873, when he withdrew and established the wholesale grocery and importing house of S. Mills Ely & Company, of which he was president at the time of his death.

Three years after the founding of the business, in 1876, he formed a partnership with E. F. Leighton, and that connection remained unbroken for a period of thirty-two years, at the end of which time it was terminated by the death of Mr. Leighton, which occurred in 1908.

S. Mills Ely Tower on summit of Mount Prospect stood from 1894 to 2007 when a windstorm knocked it down.

The business was a very prosperous one and conducted according to the highest standards of fair dealing, recognizing moral obligations and standards as well as those which are legal. Just one instance serves to illustrate the sincerity with which Mr. Ely made his business adhere to his moral convictions. He did not use tobacco in any form because he believed it to be injurious to health. Therefore, he refused to handle it in his wholesale business even though that article was then one of the large and profitable items of that trade.

Along with the business known as that of S. Mills Ely & Company, Mr. Ely, in association with Roswell J. Bump and Mr. Leighton, organized the Binghamton Chair Company, one of Binghamton’s most successful manufacturing concerns.

Tower Brand table syrup distributed by Mr. Ely features the Ely Tower!

Always deeply interested in the highest development of the community in which he lived, Mr. Ely did not hesitate to devote time and energy, as well as financial aid to the furtherance of the public welfare. He rendered valuable service valuable service as a member of the Binghamton Board of Education, and was a member of the Binghamton Club.

His religious affiliation was with the First Presbyterian Church of Binghamton, in which he was an office holder for many years, continuing his service to the time of his death in Binghamton, May 5, 1909. More than fifty of his seventy-two years were spend in “good works” in the truest sense of the word. Consistent in all things, his business affairs, his church life, and his home and social life were lived in accordance with the same principles of uprightness, and he refused to sanction or engage in any business deal not in accordance with his religious convictions.

No greater benevolent and charitable work was ever carried on by a private individual in Binghamton, than was accomplished by Mr. Ely. The Fresh Air Movement and the Humane Society were the recipients of his most generous aid; the Presbyterian Church and the Young Men’s Christian Association found in him a friend that never failed.

Close up of the tower in the Tower Brand.

In memory of his father and mother he gave a library building to Chester, Connecticut, and his summer home, located on Mount Prospect, Binghamton, he gave to the city as a public park, before his death, hoping that this donation would form the beginning of a complete park system.

In his will Mr. Ely remembered nearly every public charity in his city, and made the Presbyterian Church trustee of a fund for carrying on two benevolent enterprises, the care of the poor in Binghamton, and home missionary work among the foreign-born element of the city. Besides these bequests there were generous legacies to ten other organizations of the city, and perhaps one of the most important parts of his unusual will was the generosity with which he remembered his employees, and his recommendation that they take the value of their bequests in stock of the business which he had developed from a small beginning to a strong enterprise.

Original 1929 plan of the Ely Park 9-hole golf course that opened in 1933. Original routing was today’s Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 1, 2, & 7!

Few have lived more worthy and helpful lives than that of Mr. Ely, and both his moral influence and his works are still living and growing in the city to which he gave so generously.

S. Mills Ely married, at Binghamton, New York, October 10, 1867, Mary Hart Hawley, of Binghamton, daughter of Elias and Adaline (Hawley) Hawley, and they were parents of two children: Richard Hawley Ely, who was born July 29, 1868 and died October 8, 1869. 2. Clara May Ely, who was born December 19, 1876, who, with John R. Clements, general manager of the S. Mills Ely Company, was one of the executors of Mr. Ely’s estate. She is a resident of Binghamton.

Gratitude and all credit to William Foote Seward, Editor-in-Chief and Librarian of the Binghamton Public Library for the three-volume series—Binghamton and Broome County, New York, A History—published and copyrighted in 1924 by Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc. New York and Chicago. Mr. S. Mills Ely is found in Volume III, Historical and Biographical on Page 30.

Death & Obituary of S. Mills Ely on Wednesday, May 5th, 1909 in Binghamton, New York.

Ely Park Honoree: S. Mills Ely; Namesake of Binghamton’s Ely Park Golf Course!

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