BIO: William R. GALEY, Beaver County, PA
    
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    BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
    of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
    Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 112-114.
    _________________________________________________________________ 
    
    WILLIAM R. GALEY, of the firm of Galey Brothers, extensive oil producers,
  is a highly respected citizen of Beaver, Pa., and is well and favorably known
  throughout Beaver county. He was born in Porter township, Clarion county,
  December 5, 1848, receiving in his youth an exceptionally thorough mental
  training in the public school. He began his career by working upon his
  father's farm until he attained the age of twenty years, when he became an
  oil driller at Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. He has spent his entire life in
  the oil and gas business, being now quite extensively engaged in that
  capacity. He has operated oil wells in many counties not only in
  Pennsylvania, but also in Ohio, sometimes alone, and sometimes in partnership
  with others. He drilled the gas wells for, and helped to establish the
  Bridgewater Gas Co., in the Sheffield district, but subsequently sold his
  interest therein. He is one of the stockholders of the Beaver National Bank
  and was one of the prime factors in its organization. In 1891, Mr. Galey
  settled in Beaver, where he purchased a brick dwelling from A. Moore, and has
  since made his residence there, taking an active interest in the progress of
  his adopted town.
    
    Mr. Galey was joined in matrimony with Ida Nicholas, an accomplished lady
  of great force and sweetness of character. Mrs. Galey is a daughter of
  Charles and Isadore (Howard) Nicholas. Her father was born in Ohio, and died
  in early manhood, leaving a widow and one little daughter, Ida, to mourn his
  untimely death. Mrs. Nicholas contracted a second matrimonial alliance, this
  time with Obi Olds, by whom she had one son, Herbert, now deceased. A second
  time she was deprived of her companion and after a suitable period, married a
  third time, becoming the wife of William Fenton, to whom she bore three
  daughters: Minnie M.; Miranda I.; and
    
    BEAVER COUNTY  113
    
  Lydia A. Mrs. Fenton departed this life at the age of fifty-eight years.
    
    To our subject and his estimable wife have been born two sons and two
  daughters, whose names are: Herbert Edgar; Willie; Etta Irene; and Charlana
  Mabel. The two sons died in infancy, and Etta Irene became the wife of Howard
  Atha, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Charlana Mabel is the darling of the
  household, which she rules at will. She was born as recently as July 24,
  1897. Mr. and Mrs. Galey are active members of the Methodist Episcopal
  church. The subject of this sketch is a son of Robert and Margaret (Rogers)
  Galey, and grandson of Daniel and Margaret (Fulton) Galey. Daniel Galey was a
  native of Ireland and came to America in 1819, landing at Philadelphia, Pa.,
  and settling in Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay. There he accepted a
  position as manager of an extensive plantation, and was overseer of a large
  number of slaves. He continued to work in that capacity until cut off by
  death at about forty years of age. He was joined in matrimony with Margaret
  Fulton, who survived him until she attained the advanced age of seventy-eight
  years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Galey and her children removed to
  Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Their son, Robert, is the father
  of the subject of this sketch.
    
    Robert Galey was born in the Province of Connaught, Ireland, in 1811, and
  accompanied his parents to America, when only eight years old. At the age of
  fourteen years, he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he
  mastered in all its details, serving a full apprenticeship. He became quite
  skilled as a workman, made axes by hand and was considered an expert pattern
  maker. He started a small shop for himself, and by strict attention to his
  business accumulated quite a sum of money for those days. In 1835, he removed
  to Cherry Run, Clarion county, Pa., and purchased 100 acres of new land, which
  he cleared into fields for farming purposes. Later he sold out and purchased a
  larger tract of timber land at Red Bank, in the same county. He busied himself
  cutting his timber, which he sold to the operators of a charcoal furnace. Iron
  ore was also discovered on his land, in such paying quantities that by its
  sale, he not only paid off all his indebtedness, but was enabled to purchase
  three good farms along the Allegheny River in Perry township, Clarion county,
  Pennsylvania. During the Civil War, Mr. Galey was largely interested in
  raising sheep upon these farms; at one time he and his sons owned as many as
  B00 fine specimens. In 1867, oil was discovered on his farm, after which, for
  several years, he was largely interested in numerous oil wells. In company
  with his son John, he purchased Kink's Island, and put down a well that
  yielded an average of 75 barrels of crude oil per day for a period of four
  years. Another deal which was considered among his best investments, was the
  purchase of the Captain Clark farm in Washington county, for $17,000. Four
  years later he sold it for manufacturing purposes, for the round sum of
  $40,000.
    
    114  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
    
  Since then the place was sold for $100,000.
    
    Robert Galey possessed a strong constitution and was an active, energetic
  man with nerves of iron. He was a self-made man in the truest sense of the
  word, not only accumulating a large fortune but loaning considerable amounts
  of money and being very charitable. He was highly esteemed by all who knew
  him, and spent his last days at Belle Vernon, where his death occurred in
  June, 1895. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was
  Rachel Sparr, a daughter of John Sparr, died at the early age of thirty-two
  years, leaving three sons as a legacy to her husband. Their names are: John
  H., who is a member of the firm of Guffey & Galey at East End, Pittsburg,
  Pa.; Thomas F., of Beaver; and Robert, also of Beaver. Some time after the
  death of his first wife, Mr. Galey married again. This time he was wedded to
  Margaret Rogers, who is still living. She is a daughter of Samuel and
  Margaret (Cook) Rogers, and was born December 25, 1822. Her father was born
  in Donegal, Ireland, was a son of George Rogers, and grandson of Oliver
  Rogers, who was born in England, but settled in Ireland, and, in his day, was
  said to be the tallest man in Europe. His son George visited America, but
  stayed only a short time, returning to Ireland, where he died. The latter's
  son, George Rogers, came to America in 1832, settling in Clarion county, Pa.,
  where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, near Parker's Landing. His life was
  terminated by death at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife lived to be
  seventy-two years of age. Their children were: Elizabeth; Jane; Sally;
  Margaret, mother of William R.; Rebecca; Letitia; William; and Mary.
    
    Robert Galey's second marriage resulted in the birth of the following
  offspring: William R., subject of this sketch; Samuel, a dealer in oil at
  East End, Pittsburg; Daniel, also a dealer in oil, residing at Parker, Pa.;
  Rachel, wife of Thomas Grant; James G., of Beaver, also in the oil business;
  David H., superintendent of the Sewickley Gas Co.; and Laura G., wife of
  Lieut. Charles Farnsworth, - Mrs. Farnsworth is now deceased, and left one
  son, Robert.
    
    Our subject is a man of sterling worth, of upright dealings, and is a
  useful member of the community, who has contributed his share to the
  enterprise and thrift of Beaver. He gives liberally of his means to worthy
  charities, and assists in many ways to elevate the moral and social life of
  his community.