BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.

Pages 714-715.

Dr. JAMES SYKES ELY is one of the leading physicians of Belmont county, Ohio.
He first saw the light of day August 22, 1832, near Darlington, Hartford county,
Md. He is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Brown) Ely, who are members of the Society
of Friends. His paternal ancestors came from England to America, in the year of
the foundation of the city of Philadelphia, under the auspices of that famous
Quaker, William Penn. The father was a native of Maryland, but in 1832 moved to
Ohio. He was a cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade, and worked at his trade for
several years after he came to Morristown, where he had located. In about 1838,
he removed to Loydsville, where he entered the general merchandise trade, in
which he remained the rest of his life. Dr. Ely's early education was meager, a
short time spent in the common school, and a still shorter period in a seminary,
was all the schooling he was able to obtain. After he reached the age of twelve,
his studies were pursued with great ardor and perseverance at home, without the
aid of a preceptor. At the age of seventeen years, he began the study of medicine
under the supervision of Dr. C. Schooley, then at Loydsville, afterward at Martins
Ferry, Ohio. At the end of three years he had finished the standard course, as it
was then termed. Deterred by his extreme youth from entering at once on the
practice of his chosen profession, he went to teaching temporarily. In 1856, he
located at Somerton, Ohio, and in 1862 attended a course of lectures at the
medical college of Ohio, graduating in the following June. Upon a call being made
for surgeons to serve in the Union army he attended the examinations held at
Columbus, and was commissioned November 18, 1862, an assistant surgeon of the
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth regiment of Ohio volunteers. Joining the regiment
at Cumberland, Md., on November 14, 1862, when the forces were driven out of
Martinsburg, Va., he volunteered to remain to care for the wounded Union soldiers,
and consequently fell into the hands of the enemy, by whom he was paroled and
kindly treated. While at Martinsburg, two corps of Lee's army passed through en
route to Gettysburg, and he there counted 256 pieces of artillery in their train.
On their return he had the pleasure of hearing the enemy curse Gen. Lee for their
defeat. Following the fortunes of his regiment, he received a commission as surgeon
February 8, 1864. In the ensuing March he passed the examination of the United
States Board of Examiners. The examination was extremely rigid, consuming a week's
time. As a result of this he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the United States
volunteers by the president, April 21, 1864. The Wilderness campaign being at hand,
he withheld his acceptance of the commission and remained with his regiment.
Subsequently he was assigned to the operating staff of his brigade, and there
found incessant and exhaustive work. Upon the arrival of the army at Cold Harbor,
he reported to the headquarters of the army of the Potomac, was mustered in as
assistant surgeon of the United States volunteers, and was detailed for duty
with the department of field hospitals of Whitehouse, Va. In the latter part of
June, 1864, these hospitals were removed to City Point, Va. Dr. Ely was there on
duty for a time with the Sixth Army Corps hospital, and also with the Fifth Army
Corps hospital. December 22, 1864, he was placed in charge of the Cavalry Corps
hospital, principally to accomplish its re-organization. Early in January he was
placed in charge of the Depot Field hospital of the Sixth army corps, and retained
that position until Lee's surrender, at which time all the hospitals at that place
were broken up. On May 26, 1865, having remained until the last moment, he transfer-
red all the remaining hospital inmates aboard the hospital steamer "Connecticut,"
in charge of J. B. Hood, surgeon of United States volunteers, for transit to
Washington. August 12, 1865, he was ordered to take charge of the City General
hospital at Indianapolis, Ind., where he was eventually mustered out, October 16,
1865. He then returned to his home, and November 7, 1865, removed to Barnesville,
Ohio, where he now resides. After returning home he received a brevet promotion
from the United States. In 1868 he was appointed United States examining surgeon
for pensions, a position he held until the inauguration of President Cleveland. He
refused the importunities of his friends of both parties to make the application
for continuance in this position. Originally, he was a member of the free soil
party, but since the advent of the republican party he has been one of its warmest
supporters. In 1854, he married Emily E. Hogue, daughter of Samuel Hogue, originally
of Loudon county, Va., but resided near Loydsville, Ohio. Her mother's maiden name
was Mary Holmes, also of Loudon county, Va. Three boys have come of this union:
Ernest S., the only living one, is a graduate of the Cincinnati school of pharmacy.
January 18, 1888, Miss Lucretia M. Wood, of near Winchester, Va., became his wife,
Laura V. is their child. When Dr. Ely first came to Barnesville, he was in very
moderate circumstances, but by close application he has built up a large business.
He was one of the organizers of the Peoples' National Bank, and was made president
of the same, he still occupies this position. He has been in the drug business ever
since his location here. He is also one of the founders of the Gas company, and was
its secretary and treasurer. The doctor has the entire confidence of his fellow-
townsmen, and has always been one of Barnesville's representative men. He is a Mason,
and also a member of the G. A. R., Hilles post, No. 220.