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THOMAS B. WALLEY is a farmer and stockdealer, whose residence is near the southern limit of the city of Vinton. He was born in Otsego County, N. Y., March 16, 1830, and is the son of Everett and Sarah (Burnside) Walley, both natives of that State. His father was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed during his early life. His death occurred in February, 1856, and that of the mother in September, 1854.Thomas was reared on a farm, following agricultural pursuits, usually working by the month, until twenty-seven years of age, when he left New York and came West. Coming directly to Iowa, he landed in Vinton, in April, 1857, with but $180 in cash, with which he purchased eighty acres of land on section 30, Cedar Township. He still continued to work by the month four years, and in June, 1861, enlisted in Co. I, 3d Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until Lee's surrender, when he was mustered out. He was in the battle of Blue Mills, Mo., where he received a gunshot wound in the left leg, which disabled him for about one year. After he recovered he was put on garrison duty until the close of the war. After being mustered out he came back to Vinton and followed various occupations until 1872, when he bought 320 acres of land on section 31, Eden Township, which he improved, and lived upon it until 1877, when he traded it for town property, where he has since lived.
He was married, Jan. 2, 1873, to Margaret Upham, daughter of Thomas and Brachie (Van Ness) Upham, natives of New York. Mr. Walley is the owner of 170 acres of land on section 30, Taylor Township, and twenty-seven acres where he resides, also the restaurant building now occupied by C. S. Goodwin, which is a brick structure 24 x 84 feet, two stories in height, with basement. He makes a specialty of raising cattle, and is one of the prominent men of the township. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, A. O. U. W., and the G. A. R. He is also a member of the Presbyterian Church of Vinton, his wife being connected with the same body.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 271-272.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 9th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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