Biography of Roley S. Pauley

Roley S. Pauley. The greater part of forty years Roley S. Panley had given to farm ownership and management on a large scale in Marshall County. His achievements classify him as one of the leaders in Kansas agriculture. As a practical man of affairs his advice and counsel have naturally been sought by his fellow citizens, and among other honors a term in the State Senste was conferred upon him, He is also interested in banking and other affairs in his section of the state, but essentially first and last he is a farmer and had always kept in close touch with the soil and its interests.

Mr. Pauley was born at Bloomington, Indiana, June 23, 1849. His remote ancestors came out of Germany and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Abruham Pauley, was born and reared and married in Kentucky, and then became a pioneer in Indisna. He secured a tract of government land near Bloomington and had to cut a road twenty-six miles through the heavy woods in order to make his claim and homestead accessible. He spent his business life as a farmer, but was also a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years did circuit riding in his part of Indiana. He died near Bloomington in 1852.

Solomon Pauley, father of Roley S., was born in Kentucky in 1815, spent his boyhood there, and grew up on his father’s farm in Indiana. He afterward removed to Iowa, being a pioneer in that new state, and was married there. During the Mexican war he served as a soldier in the American army. Otherwise his life was spent as a farmer. He was a republican and a member of the Mothodist Episcopal Church. Solomon Pauley died near Albia, Iowa, in 1891. His wife was America Smock, who was born near Bloomington, Indiana, in 1829. She died near Albia, Iowa, in October, 1916, having lived in that one locality and on the old homestead for over fifty years. Of her four children Roley S. was the oldest. Mary A. married John T. Little, and both died in Monroe County, Iowa, where they had a farm. Mrs. Julity M. Lessinger is living in Monroe County, Iowa, her husband having been a carpenter and cabinet maker. James A., the youngest, is a farmer in Monroe County, Iowa.

Roley S. Pauley grew up and attended the rural schools in Monroe County, Iowa, and also in the public schools of Burlington in that state, being a student in the high school for two years. He worked on his father’s farm until reaching his majority, and then farmed independently in the same county until 1879.

In that year Mr. Pauley identified himself with the comparativaly new district around. Beattie, Kansas, buying 160 acres three miles northeast of the town. Hard work and good management have given him a large stake in Kansas farm enterprise. His home farm consists of 560 acres, and he also had a ranch of 500 acres in Graham County, Kansas, and owned a seventh interest in 7,000 acres in New Mexico.

Mr. Pauley is a director in the First National Bank of Beattie, and is director and vice president of the Co-operative Elevator Company of that town,

For two years he served as county treasurer of Marshall County. During his official term and for four years altogether he had his home in Marysville, but with that exception he had lived at his fine country place three miles northeast of Beattie continuously for thirty-six years. Among other public service he had had an official part in the management of his home school district.

As a republican Mr. Pauley was elected to represent his district in the State Senate in 1912, and made a creditable record in the session of 1913. In that session he was chairman of the flsh and game committee, and also a member of the live stock committee, the federal building committee and other committees. He is affiliated with Beattie Lodge No. 259, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Marysville Chapter No. 29, Royal Arch Masons, and also belongs to Marysville Lodge No. 166 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Pauley married in 1882, near Beattie, Kansas, Miss Nora E. Totten, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Posten) Totten. Her parents are both deceased. Her father was a pioneer farmer near Beattie. Mr. and Mrs. Pauley have an interesting family of six children. Della E, is still at home. Ray S. manages his father’s farm in Rock Township of Marshall County. Jesse T. is also a farm manager for his father. Elsie graduated from Salina College and is now a stenographer and assistant in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Cora E. is a senior in the Beattie High School, and Wayne, the youngest of the family, is a member of the freshman class in the same high school.


Surnames:
Pauley,

Topics:
Biography,

Collection:
Connelley, William E. A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans. Chicago : Lewis, 1918. 5v. Biographies can be accessed from this page: Kansas and Kansans Biographies.

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