George Byron Ely

Raised in Hightstown, NJ from age 9, after his father's death, he studied law in Trenton and was admitted to the bar in New Jersey in 1848. He moved to Janesville, WI in 1851 and was district attorney there 1854-55. In 1860 he was a wealthy 34 year old attorney in Janesville. He helped organize Company D, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry on 17 April 1861 and was commissioned Captain on 22 April.

He assumed command of the Regiment as senior officer standing, after Lieutenant Colonel Evans was wounded, but was himself wounded in action on 17 September 1862 at Antietam. He led the Regiment from the field at the end of the day.

He was discharged for his Antietam wound on 21 December 1862. He was appointed Assistant Paymaster, US Volunteers on 19 February 1863 and served in Washington, DC. He was honored by brevets in March 1865 to Major and Lieutenant Colonel, USV for his actions at 1st and 2nd Bull Run, Gainesville, South Mountain, and Antietam. He mustered out on 20 July 1866.

By 1870 he was a life insurance salesman in Brooklyn, NY. He was a pump manufacturer there in 1875, but by 1880 was again a practicing lawyer, in New York City.

Basic information from State of Wisconsin1 and Heitman2. Personal details from family genealogists, the US Census of 1860-1880, and the New York State Census of 1875. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph in the MOLLUS-Mass Collection.3

He married Caroline Ely Boies in Northampton, MA on 3 May 1848. Her 1898 portrait by William Merritt Chase is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection.

10/08/1825; New York City, NY

10/12/1886; Manhattan, NYC, NY; burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY