Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Fay, Orville J. March 14, 1861 - ????
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 January 14, 2025, 1:03 pm

Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

ORVILLE J. FAY,
one of the deserving and successful young business men of the borough of
Hollidaysburg, is a son of George and Martha (Fluke) Fay, and was born in the
borough of Williamsburg, Woodbury township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, March
14, 1861.  The Fay family is of Scotch-Irish descent, and Joseph Fay, the
paternal grandfather of Orville J. Fay, at ten years of age was brought to
the old Fay homestead, a part of which is now within the borough limits of
Williamsburg.  He was a farmer by occupation, and a Presbyterian in religious
faith and church membership, and died at the age of seventy-five years.  His
son, George Fay (father), was born in 1829, on the old homestead, where he
has always resided.  While managing his farm in early life, he determined
upon a business career, and has been more or less engaged in business
pursuits until within the last year, when he retired from active life.  He
was manager of the Williamsburg Manufacturing Company for many years, and
about 1876 formed a partnership with a Mr. Patterson, under the firm name of
Fay & Patterson, for the purpose of handling and dealing in grain at
Williamsburg, where they did a very good business until 1892, when Mr. Fay
withdrew from the firm.  He is a republican, has served his borough as school
director, and was sheriff of Blair county for one term from 1882 to 1885.  He
has always been active in business and politics, and married Martha Fluke,
who was born in the borough of Williamsburg, and passed away in 1863.  Mr.
Fay has a good home, with comfortable surroundings, and is well situated to
enjoy life.
      Orville J. Fay was reared at Williamsburg, and received a good business
education in the common schools.  At about fifteen years of age he secured a
position in a Philadelphia store, which he held for a short time, and then
returned home.  In 1878 he came to Hollidaysburg and became a clerk in the
general mercantile store of Wood, Morrell & Co., with whom he remained for
four and one-half years.  At the end of that time, in 1883, he determined to
enter into business for himself, and formed a partnership with John D. Love,
under the firm name of Fay & Love.  They opened a grocery store on Allegheny
street and in the very center of Hollidaysburg, where they did a good
business for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Fay purchased the
interest of his partner, and has continued to operate the store successfully
ever since.  He carries a large and carefully selected stock of groceries,
both staple and fancy, and everything is to be found in his store that the
most fastidious housekeeper could require for her table.  He has been
gradually increasing his stock, and aims to supply his patrons with standard
good of absolute purity.  In politics he is a republican, and while not
taking any prominent or decided part in political matters, yet has always
heartily supported his party, and served one term as a school director of
East Hollidaysburg.  Orville J. Fay in religious opinion has always held to
the faith and teachings of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been a
member for several years.  For a young man his successful business career has
been remarkable.
      In 1885 he married Alice Elliott, daughter of John Elliott, of
Hollidaysburg, and their union has been blessed with two children, a son and
a daughter: Lillian E. and Orville C.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Judy Banja  jbanja@comcast.net

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 4.1 Kb