PORTRAIT AND BI0GRAPHICAL REVIEW OF JOHNSON, MASSAC, POPE AND HARDIN COUNTIES, ILLINOIS Chicago, Biographical Publishing Co., 1893 transcribed by Ginger Hayes pg.483 WILLIAM CONLEY, a farmer living on section 13, township 13, range 7, Pope County, is a son of John Conley, a farmer and a native of Ohio. The father of John Conley was also a farmer, who lived in Ohio, and reared his son on the farm, who, on account of meagre educational facilities, failed to secure more than a very ordinary education. He was married when about twenty-three years old to Susan Ward, who was also from Ohio, and after marriage he removed to Illinois by team and wagon, commencing a poor man, making ties and chopping cord wood in the winter time, and in the summer time raising a crop. He at first rented a farm in Saline County, Ill., and continued in this way to make his living until he was able to buy eighty acres of land. Before he was able to get settled on it, however, the war broke out, and with the enthusiasm of patriotism which characterized the young men, particularly of the Northern States, he enlisted in Company K, Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and served about three years in the army, participating in numerous battles and minor engagements. He returned to Saline County after the war closed, but with health impaired, and followed farming to the best of his ability until he died. He was the father of ten children, viz: Sylvanus, deceased; Jane, wife of . T. J. Stiff, living in Pope County; Ellen, wife of M. Tharpe, a farmer of Pope County; William and Williamson, twins, farmers of Pope County: Emeline, deceased; Edmund and Edna, twins, both living with William; Anson and Fannie, twins, the former living with William, and the latter deceased. The father died in Saline County, but the mother is now living with William. Our subject, one of the first pair of twins, was born in Pope County near Wilson Mill, January 1, 1865, and was brought up on the farm. and up to nine years of age received his education in the public schools, afterward getting what he could outside and becoming fairly well educated. He was only ten years old when.his father died, and as the family was very poor he had to take hold at that early age of whatever he could find to do, in order to assist in the support of the family. He worked at twentv-five or thirty cents per day for some time, his wages increasing as age and strength increased. This he continued to do until he was twenty-one years old, when he felt that it was time for him to do something for himself, and so raised a crop away from home. which he gathered and took home. He has always had his mother with him, an d while he had to struggle hard for an existence, yet industry, patience and kindness have their.reward, and he is now in comfortable circuinstances. In 1888 our subject bought his present farm of two hundred and eighty-seven acres, which was at that time somewhat improved, but he has improved it considerably since, and he has now a fine farm. It is situated high on a bank of the Ohio, on the outside of a considerable bend in the river, and the view from the farm is magnificent both up and down the stream. Mr. Conley is one of the successful farmers Of Pope County, and as comfortably situated as re-ards this world's goods as any man need wish to be. In April, 1889, on Easter Sunday, he was married to Miss Fannie Phelps, of Pope County, whose parents were from Kentucky and Illinois, but both are deceased. Mr and Mrs. Conley have one child, Bulia Ann. In polictics, Mr. Conley is a Republican, and believes strongly in the education of the young. He is a very popular young man, and is in a fine condition to make a success of life. --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ginger