BIO: Frank G. CONLEY, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 626 & 627. _____________________________________________________________ FRANK G. CONLEY, justice of the peace at Westover and a well known agriculturist of Chest township, was born at Cherry Tree, Clearfield county, Pa., January 5, 1861. He is a son of John and a grandson of Bernard Conley. The latter, who was a native of Ireland, came to America in 1830, finding employment at Hollidaysburg, Pa., on the construction of the old canal. He afterwards followed blacksmithing and farming and died in Cambria county in 1866 at the age of 60 years. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Green. John Conley, father of our subject, was born at Hollidaysburg, in 1831. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation and came to Cherry Tree about 1855 at the time of his marriage. In 1864 he removed to Chest township where he continued in the same lines of industry. He died December 12, 1892. He was a man of importance in the community, a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He also belonged to the Masonic lodge at Curwensville, of which he was a charter member, and to the chapter at Clearfield; also to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Ansonville, Pa., and to the Grange. He was a Democrat in politics and served as justice of the peace for 15 years, also for some time as a member of the school board. Of his children there are three daughters and two sons now living, namely: Etta, wife of Samuel Morrison; Alice, wife of W. Billings, of Portage, Pa.; Pearl, wife of E. M. McGarbey, a Christian Alliance minister of Cambria county, Pa.; William F., an Evangelical pastor, residing at New Paris, Pa.; and Ernest, a Christian Alliance pastor, of Williamsport, Pa. Frank G. Conley, after attending school, remained at home with his parents until reaching the age of 29 years. He then came to Westover and entered the employ of the William F. Mosser Tanning Company, remaining with them for 20 years, or practically up to the present time. He was also engaged in farming and lumbering before coming to Westover. Mr. Conley lived in the county when lumbering and rafting were the principal occupations during the winter and spring, and made several trips down the river. A Democrat politically, he was elected justice of the peace in 1909 and has rendered creditable service in that office. He was assessor of the township three years, has served as burgess of the borough of Westover, and has been ten years a member of the council. He has also served as election officer at various times. Mr. Conley was married in 1879 to Emma Klinger, who was born June 18, 1860, at Newburg, this county, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Rebecca (Barto) Klinger. Mr. and Mrs. Conley have been the parents of five children, as follows: Blanche, wife of Milton Westover, a farmer of Chest township, who has three children; A. M. Conley of Westover, a barber, who married Verta Westover and has one child; Verda, who is unmarried; and William F. and Vincent, who are attending school.