William M. Maley From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing
biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894) WILLIAM M. MALEY, deceased, was a native of the Buckeye State, his birth having occurred near Dayton, on the 29th of December, 1820. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Starr) Maley. Upon their farm he was born and reared, and in Ohio he remained until fourteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the family locating in Warren County, where they spent two years. They then came to Henderson County, locating near Pleasant Green, where a farm of one hundred and sixty acres was purchased. Only a few acres had been broken, and the log cabin was the only improvement upon the place. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Maley started out in life for himself, and from that time was dependent upon his own resources; therefore, his success was due entirely to his own efforts. He continued to make his home in Henderson County until 1839, when lie went to Keokuk County, Iowa. Two years later he made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Four years he resided upon that farm, after which he returned to this county, in 1845. The following year he purchased a part of the farm on which his widow now resides, be- coming owner of a tract of eighty acres, of which twenty acres had been broken. There he lived until his death. He was very successful in his undertakings, and as his financial resources increased he made other purchases, until his landed possessions aggregated three hundred and twenty-nine acres, all in Oquawka and Rozetta Townships. On the 31st of August, 1841, Mr. Maley led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth Stevens, a native of Switzerland County, Ind., born on the 3d of December, 1816, and a daughter of Harvey and Olive (Maynard) Stevens, who were married in 1814, near Worthington, Ohio, the latter being a native of Massachusetts, and the former of Connecticut. Mrs. Maley's father's people moved to the State of New York in an early day, when he was only three years old. Both her grandfathers were in the Revolutionary War, grandfather Stevens having served in the battle of White Plains, and grandfather Maynard in the battle of Long Island. The latter, who was only a small boy, served as a fifer. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maley. Henry H., who was a veteran of the late war, died March 14, 1892. He had married Emma C. Rice, and to them were born five children: Olive, Thomas, Maude, Lee and William. Charles H., who is now a farmer of Lincoln County, Neb., wedded Mary Bailey, and they became the parents of three children: Nellie, Margaret and Charles. His present wife bore the maiden name of Amanda Burr. They have a son and daughter, Robert and Hazel. Thomas married Lucinda J. France, and is living on the old homestead. In his political views, Mr. Maley was a Republican. He possessed good business and executive ability, and his well-directed efforts brought him a good property, which enabled him to leave his wife in comfortable circumstances. He was true and faithful to all trusts, whether public or private, and was a man of sterling worth and strict integrity. He passed away on the 26th of June, 1884, and was laid to rest in the Green Hill Cemetery, amid the deep regrets of many friends. |