Old Settlers' Stories
by Dr. William Ely
Dr. William Ely was born in 1861, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother passed away when he was eleven years old and his brother was six years old. Three years later the father passed away so the boys made their home with a physician in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Dr. Ely graduated from high school and worked his way through college. He became an engineer and was appointed assistant Chief Engineer of Kalamazoo. He earned enough so he could attend the University of Michigan and graduated with honors with a degree of Doctor of Medicine. He practiced in Battle Creek, Michigan, and came west to Ocheyedan in 1887.
Ocheyedan was sparsely settled and roads were but prairie trails. Travel in winter was hazardous.
One night after attending a sick patient he started home in a blizzard. He knew he wouldn't find his way home in the blinding storm and he and his team of horses would perish, so he unhitched the team and turned them loose. He took robes and blankets and burrowed himself in a snow drift. By noon the next day the storm was subsided and breaking through the crust of snow found his team near. Dr. Ely mounted one horse and led the other. When he arrived in Ocheyedan, he was frozen to his horse.
Dr. Ely had the knowledge of the art of medicine which made him a successful practioner for that period of time. He was especially successful in diseases of children. Through his ministrations over a thousand babies were born and he never lost a mother. If you were born in the Ocheyedan area from 1887-1922, your mother probably had Dr. Ely's services.
As a citizen Dr. Ely was progressive. He was elected Ocheyedan's first mayor and served as many times thereafter when he would accept the job. He was on the village council, school board, organized a telephone company of which he was president and manager of the company. He backed installing the electric lighting service and was president of the company.
Dr. Ely was married in 1890, at Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Alice Kirby who passed away in 1915. This couple took into their home at the age of three, Floy Bauermeister, an orphan. She was lavished every care of kind parents from childhood to womanhood.
Before Dr. Ely came to Ocheyedan, he had developed a love of birds and brought with him a collection of nests and articles related to birds. His other hobby was shrubs and flower care about his home.
The civic spirit and love for Ocheyedan was evident when Dr. Ely's will was read. The Town of Ocheyedan received 1/4 of his assets to build a public library. Since the library was already built when the estate was settled money is allocated yearly for improving services.
Dr. Ely passed away at the Sibley Hospital after appendix surgery. He is buried in the Ocheyedan Cemetery.
He served the town of Ocheyedan for thirty four years.
-Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner