Alley, William H.

ALLEY, GIFFORD, STEIKLE, SPETH, SCHMELTZ

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/28/2012 at 10:43:41

William H. Alley is a well known farmer and business man who for a number of years, has engaged as sprinkling contractor at Grinnell. He is a native of Canada, born November 24, 1854, and is a son of Jeremiah and Kathryn (Gifford) Alley, both of whom were born in Canada. The father removed with his family to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming for ten years, and then came to Iowa, located in Tama county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1879. The mother is still living and makes her home with her children. In the family were the following children: A. M., who married Ella Robinson and is now a resident of Huron, S.D.; George W., also a resident of Huron, who married Kittie Coburn; Charles E., who married Maud Crew and lives in Meridan, Mississippi, and Electa, the wife of W. W. Dale, of Grinnell township, this county.
William H. Alley received his early education in the common schools and continued with his parents until after attaining his majority. He removed with them to Tama county, this state in 1866. Ever since his boyhood he has been actively identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests. He engaged in farming for seventeen years in Sheridan township, Poweshiek county, where he still owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and in 1895 removed to Grinnell, where he established his home. During the last two years, upon his farm he devoted considerable attention to raising Poland China hogs, in which he was very successful. He rented his place and is now living in Grinnell where he has rendered efficient service for thirteen years s contractor for street sprinkling.
On March 11, 1879, Mr. Alley was united in marriage in Highland township, Tama county, to Miss Mary J. Steikle, a daughter of A.H. and Mary Steikle. The parents were both born in Canada and removed to Tama county, Iowa, where Mr. Steikle devoted his attention to Farming. Mrs. Alley died in 1894 and on January 2, 1896, Mr. Alley was married to Mrs. Amelia Smith, a native of Germany, and a daughter of C. H. Speth. Mr. Alley has three children living; Nellie, the wife of Peter J. Schmeltz, who is engaged in the manufacture of automobile tops at Marshalltown; Hazel, who is a student for the high school and is now living at home; and George Roger. Bertha Smith, a daughter of Mrs. Alley by her former marriage, graduated as a kindergarten teacher at Des Moines.
Ever since McKinley's election Mr. Alley has given his support to the republican party. In religious belief he is a Methodist and is now serving as trustee of the church at Grinnell. He is a valued member of the Knights of Phythias and the Modern Brotherhood of America and as a business man is identified with the Commercial Club. Active, industrious and enterprising, he is thoroughly efficient in anything he undertakes and as his life is governed by sound principles he always aims to deal justly with his fellowmen. He is of a genial and accommodating disposition and it is greatly to his credit that his best friends are found among those with whom he has had business relations.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 286-288