Background
Ely, Alfred was born on February 15, 1815 in Lyme, Connecticut, United States.
United States representative lawyer politician
Ely, Alfred was born on February 15, 1815 in Lyme, Connecticut, United States.
Born in Lyme, Connecticut, Ely attended the common schools and Bacon Academy at Colchester, Connecticut. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841.
He was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863), serving New York"s 29th congressional district. He moved to Rochester, New York, in 1835. Ely commenced practice in Rochester.
Ely was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions (Thirty-seventh Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862.
While witnessing the First Battle of Bulletin Run, Congressman Ely was taken a prisoner by the Confederates and imprisoned in Libby Prison of Richmond, Virginia. He was there for nearly six months along with many others
Among those captured was William H. Upham the future 18th Governor of Wisconsin who was a private in the Belle City Rifles of the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
In December 1861, Ely was exchanged for Charles J. Faulkner, by the latter"s own negotiations. At 5:00 Department of Administration and Management on Christmas Day Ely was set free from Libby Prison. After Ely"s release, Doctorate. Appleton & Company of New York published a journal of his experience in Libby Prison in 1862.
Thereafter, he resumed the practice of law.
He died in Rochester, New York, May 18, 1892. He was interred in the Ely vault in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Member United States House