Civil War veteran
Grand Army of the Republic
8th Michigan Infantry Co. C
Enlisted 12 Aug 1861, age 41, from Alma, MI
Discharged 19 May 1866
Colonel Ely was acknowledged to be the founder of Alma*, along with Captain Lafayette Church of the 26th Michigan, and was immortalized for his bravery in connection with the famous 8th Michigan Regiment - known as the Wandering Regiment.
The 8th was continually on the move and as such had problems obtaining supplies. They were short on basics such as uniforms, tents and shoes. Despite the many hardships they endured they had a reputation as a tough, hard marching, hard fighting regiment.
*(Ralph Ely moved from Ionia County early in 1854, settled on the south side of Pine River and founded the village of "Elyton" which later became known as Alma.)
--------
Ralph and Mary had 1 son and 5 daughters:
Townsend A.
Louise A.
Phebe E.
Mary J.
Lucy L.
Kate F.
Grand Army of the Republic
8th Michigan Infantry Co. C
Enlisted 12 Aug 1861, age 41, from Alma, MI
Discharged 19 May 1866
Colonel Ely was acknowledged to be the founder of Alma*, along with Captain Lafayette Church of the 26th Michigan, and was immortalized for his bravery in connection with the famous 8th Michigan Regiment - known as the Wandering Regiment.
The 8th was continually on the move and as such had problems obtaining supplies. They were short on basics such as uniforms, tents and shoes. Despite the many hardships they endured they had a reputation as a tough, hard marching, hard fighting regiment.
*(Ralph Ely moved from Ionia County early in 1854, settled on the south side of Pine River and founded the village of "Elyton" which later became known as Alma.)
--------
Ralph and Mary had 1 son and 5 daughters:
Townsend A.
Louise A.
Phebe E.
Mary J.
Lucy L.
Kate F.
Civil War veteran
Grand Army of the Republic
8th Michigan Infantry Co. C
Enlisted 12 Aug 1861, age 41, from Alma, MI
Discharged 19 May 1866
Colonel Ely was acknowledged to be the founder of Alma*, along with Captain Lafayette Church of the 26th Michigan, and was immortalized for his bravery in connection with the famous 8th Michigan Regiment - known as the Wandering Regiment.
The 8th was continually on the move and as such had problems obtaining supplies. They were short on basics such as uniforms, tents and shoes. Despite the many hardships they endured they had a reputation as a tough, hard marching, hard fighting regiment.
*(Ralph Ely moved from Ionia County early in 1854, settled on the south side of Pine River and founded the village of "Elyton" which later became known as Alma.)
--------
Ralph and Mary had 1 son and 5 daughters:
Townsend A.
Louise A.
Phebe E.
Mary J.
Lucy L.
Kate F.
Grand Army of the Republic
8th Michigan Infantry Co. C
Enlisted 12 Aug 1861, age 41, from Alma, MI
Discharged 19 May 1866
Colonel Ely was acknowledged to be the founder of Alma*, along with Captain Lafayette Church of the 26th Michigan, and was immortalized for his bravery in connection with the famous 8th Michigan Regiment - known as the Wandering Regiment.
The 8th was continually on the move and as such had problems obtaining supplies. They were short on basics such as uniforms, tents and shoes. Despite the many hardships they endured they had a reputation as a tough, hard marching, hard fighting regiment.
*(Ralph Ely moved from Ionia County early in 1854, settled on the south side of Pine River and founded the village of "Elyton" which later became known as Alma.)
--------
Ralph and Mary had 1 son and 5 daughters:
Townsend A.
Louise A.
Phebe E.
Mary J.
Lucy L.
Kate F.
Inscription
With malice toward none
With charity for all
Gravesite Details
orig buried at Cross Village. In Feb 1884 his remains were exhumed and re-interred at Alma Riverside Cemetery.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
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