Simpson Ely 1849-1908 Born in Illinois Died in Joplin, Mo.
1880 census – lived in Illinois
1900 Census of Kirksville, Mo:
Simpson Ely 51, minister Elizabeth Ely 50 (maiden name was Miller) Mary D. Ely 26 (the middle name was Deborah) The family moved to Joplin, Mo. sometime after 1909. Ely died in Joplin, Mo. in 1908 from a fall from a streetcar. Buried in Fairview Cemetery there. His wife died later and is also buried there. Daughter Mary Deborah married Frederick Earl Whittlesey, an engineer who served in the military in Cuba. Their 2 children were born between 1900 and 1910 in Colorado.

1910 census of Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California: Elizabeth Ely Mary Whittlesey, music teacher Harold Whittlesey, son, born Colorado Lois E. Queenie Whittlesey, dau, born Colorada.

1920 census of California: Mary Whittlesey, music teacher Daughter Mary Deborah Ely (1873-1951), taught music in Kirksville, Missouri, and after she left there, went to California. --Contributor: Blytha & Donald Ellis (47068335)

HYMN – Shut-In, by Simpson Ely, written 1887
Shut-in from all the outer world,
From all its strife and din;
My ears ne'er greet its jarring sound,
Nor eyes behold its sin.
Shut-in with self and with my God,
Oh, let this thought, this thought console;
Tho' many outer joys I miss,
I've Heav'n within my soul!
Tho' many outer joys I miss,
I've Heav'n within my soul!

Shut-in, but Christ is ever near,
Oh, blessèd be His name!
His presence banishes my fear
And helps me bear my pain.
Oh, sweet companionship with Him,
My Life, my Light, my Joy, my Love!
He fills my cup up to the brim,
With blessings from above;
He fills my cup up to the brim,
With blessings from above.

Shut-in: but God alone can tell
How long this woe may last;
No matter, for I know full well
That when 'tis overpast,
Then on the hills of Beulah-land,
Free from all care, all care, and sin,
And, free from sorrow, pain, and death,
I'll no more be shut in;
And, free from sorrow, pain, and death,
I'll no more be shut-in.

NOTE: Rev. Ely's wife sued the railroad for his death
Contributor: Blytha & Donald Ellis (47068335)

Simpson Ely 1849-1908 Born in Illinois Died in Joplin, Mo.
1880 census – lived in Illinois
1900 Census of Kirksville, Mo:
Simpson Ely 51, minister Elizabeth Ely 50 (maiden name was Miller) Mary D. Ely 26 (the middle name was Deborah) The family moved to Joplin, Mo. sometime after 1909. Ely died in Joplin, Mo. in 1908 from a fall from a streetcar. Buried in Fairview Cemetery there. His wife died later and is also buried there. Daughter Mary Deborah married Frederick Earl Whittlesey, an engineer who served in the military in Cuba. Their 2 children were born between 1900 and 1910 in Colorado.

1910 census of Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California: Elizabeth Ely Mary Whittlesey, music teacher Harold Whittlesey, son, born Colorado Lois E. Queenie Whittlesey, dau, born Colorada.

1920 census of California: Mary Whittlesey, music teacher Daughter Mary Deborah Ely (1873-1951), taught music in Kirksville, Missouri, and after she left there, went to California. --Contributor: Blytha & Donald Ellis (47068335)

HYMN – Shut-In, by Simpson Ely, written 1887
Shut-in from all the outer world,
From all its strife and din;
My ears ne'er greet its jarring sound,
Nor eyes behold its sin.
Shut-in with self and with my God,
Oh, let this thought, this thought console;
Tho' many outer joys I miss,
I've Heav'n within my soul!
Tho' many outer joys I miss,
I've Heav'n within my soul!

Shut-in, but Christ is ever near,
Oh, blessèd be His name!
His presence banishes my fear
And helps me bear my pain.
Oh, sweet companionship with Him,
My Life, my Light, my Joy, my Love!
He fills my cup up to the brim,
With blessings from above;
He fills my cup up to the brim,
With blessings from above.

Shut-in: but God alone can tell
How long this woe may last;
No matter, for I know full well
That when 'tis overpast,
Then on the hills of Beulah-land,
Free from all care, all care, and sin,
And, free from sorrow, pain, and death,
I'll no more be shut in;
And, free from sorrow, pain, and death,
I'll no more be shut-in.

NOTE: Rev. Ely's wife sued the railroad for his death
Contributor: Blytha & Donald Ellis (47068335)