OBIT: William A. OHLEY, 1932, native of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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WILLIAM A. OHLEY

  Word has been received at Berlin of the death of William A. Ohley, aged 74, a 
native of Berlin and former resident of Salisbury and Meyersdale.
  William Alexander Ohley was widely known throughout West Virginia for almost 
half a century.  He died at his residence in Charleston, W.Va., after a year's 
illness.  He had been confined to his home for eight months.
  Mr. Ohley was born in Berlin, Sept. 28, 1858, the son of Frederick Charles and 
Drucilla Stoner Ohley.  When he was a young boy the family moved to Salisbury 
where his father was engaged in the foundry business for several years.  About 
the age of 12, he became a printer's devil (apprentice) in the office of 
Salisbury's first newspaper, the Salisbury Independent, the forerunner of the 
now defunct Meyersdale Commercial.
  About the year 1874 or 1875 the Ohley family moved to Fairmont, W.Va., where 
William, as a young man, became interested with Owen S. McKinney, one of 
Fairmont's leading citizens, in the printing business.  Shortly thereafter, Mr. 
Ohley purchased and became the editor of the Fairmont Index.
  Becoming interested in West Virginia politics, Editor Ohley became associated 
with the campaign of the late Governor A. B. Flemming, by whom Mr. Ohley was 
appointed Secretary of State.  He served in that office with distinction and 
after his retirement from office became interested in the coal, oil and gas and 
real estate businesses, and was responsible in a large measure for the 
development of the coal fields along Cabin Creek in West Virginia.
  In addition to being related to Dr. H. K. Stoner, he was likewise related to 
the Swope and Groff families of Berlin.

Meyersdale Republican, December 1, 1932