BIO: Cephas L. GRAMLEY, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _______________________________________________________________________ 156 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. PROF. CEPHAS L. GRAMLEY. It is a pleasure to note that many of our most successful citizens are natives of this section, and have here developed the talents which their mature years have devoted to well- chosen activities. Prof. Gramley, the able and cultured superintendent of the schools of Centre county, is a typical example, and the story of his earnest pursuit of a worthy ambition cannot fail to convey a helpful lesson. Prof. Gramley was born September 17, 1852, at Rebersburg, Centre county, where he now resides, and is of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. The earliest records of the family place their home in southeastern Pennsylvania, but the Professor's grandfather, Philip Gramley, was probably born in the central part of the State. He located in Centre county in early manhood, and with the exception of a comparatively brief residence in Clinton county, he made his home there, gaining by his ability and energy a prominent place among the pioneers of his locality. Samuel Gramley, the Professor's father was born in Rebersburg, March 4, 1827, and is still a resident of that town, where he has always enjoyed the respect and esteem of the people. He attended the district schools there for a time in his youth, and completed his course of study at Mifflinburg Academy, afterward entering into business as a teacher, surveyor and farmer. As county commissioner, and justice of the peace for many years, he demonstrated his capacity for public affairs, while his popularity is shown by his election to these positions in the face of an adverse partisan majority. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. His wife, who was Miss Sarah J. Smull, and who was also a native of Rebersburg, was born March 15, 1832, and passed from earth May 14, 1880. The children of this marriage now living are: Prof. Cephas L., our subject; Titus M. is in the creamery business at Spring Mills; Clement H. is a farmer at the old homestead in Miles township, Centre county; Naomi J. is the wife of Charles Heckman, of Clinton county, Penn.; and Ada E. is the wife of W. T. Hubler, and resides at the old homestead. Our subject had the benefit of life upon a farm during his boyhood. When his intellectual advancement demanded better opportunities than were to be obtained in the local schools, he spent two terms at Clinton Seminary; but with the ardor of the genuine student he determined to secure further advantages. By teaching for a time he provided himself with the funds wherewith to carry him through two years at Susquehanna University, at Selins Grove, Penn. After this he again engaged in teaching, and for seventeen years he taught in the Grammar School at Rebersburg. Since 1875 he has been more or less engaged in Normal School and institute work during the summer up to the time of his appointment to the county superintendency of schools in 1892. This work he helped to carry on at Milesburg in 1875-'76 and '77, and thereafter COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA. 157 at Rebersburg. He has had as high as seventy young men and women at a time whom he was preparing to follow the profession of teaching. He served out the unexpired term of his predecessor, and in 1893 was elected to the same office, and re-elected in 1896. He is a most efficient and able superintendent of the county's schools. In 1878 Prof. Gramley was married to Miss Joanna Weaver, a lady of good qualities, who was born in August, 1852, at Wolfs Store, Centre county. They have had two children: Gertrude, born in 1880, died in 1895, and Almah, born in 1882, is at home. The parents are identified with the Lutheran Church, the Professor having been the chorister in both the Church and the Sabbath-school since 1875. He is a charter member of Rebersburg Lodge No. 1031, I.O.O.F., organized in February, 1892, and he was the first Noble Grand, and first to fill all the chairs. In 1893 he represented his lodge at the General Lodge held at Reading, Penn. Prof. Gramley is also a practical surveyor and does work at times, as a recreation and relief, to his father, who works in this line. In politics he is a Republican. He has given many evidences of deep and generous sympathy with the welfare and progress of the community.