William Elley was born on May 8, 1862 at Woodage, England to John Elley and Mary Ann Townsend Elley and departed this life on January 20, 1960 at Holdrege, Nebraska at the age of 97 years, 8 months and 14 days. He came with his parents to the United States at the age of 9 years and resided for a time at Kingston, New York. During his early manhood he followed his trage as a baker and in about 1881 he came with his father to Franklin County, Nebraska.

He married Sarah Ann Sexton at Hebron, Nebraska on April 26, 1883 and in 1884 they took a homestead near Stockville in Frontier County, Nebraska. To this union two children were born, Maude Elley Poague of Holdrege and Guy B. Elley of Farnam, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah, on August 11, 1927 and since that time has made his home with his children and more recently with his daughter, Maude.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 196 of Stockville.

Preceding him in death besides his wife, were his parents, four sisters and three brothers.

He leaves to mourn his passing his daughter, Maude; a son, Guy; grandchildren, Mildred J. Poague of Holdrege, Roger Elley of Hastings, William A. Elley of Farnam, Miriam Fowler of Papillion and Delores Elley of Farnam; three great-grandchildren; 1 brother, John Elley of LaVeta, Colo.; a sister, Grace Fleming; a half-brother and three half-sisters, a number of nephews and nieces and a host of friends.

He was one of the eldest landlords in Frontier county and was very proud of the fact that he still owned his homestead.

The Curtis Enterprise 69(5):4 Thursday, February 4, 1960