U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Conley, William Gustavus (1866-1940) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 653-654 WILLIAM GUSTAVUS CONLEY, LL. D., a well known practicing attorney of Kingwood, Preston County, West Virginia, a member of the law firm of Conley & Smith, of Parsons, West Virginia, and a prominent politician of the State, was born January 8, 1866, in Preston County, West Virginia, and is a son of William and Mary (Freeburn) Conley. William Conley was also a native of Preston County and was a well known citizen. He engaged in teaching school, later was interested in contracting, and at one time was deputy sheriff of Preston County. He served with the rank of major in the State militia. His religious connection was with the Methodist Church. Mr. Conley died when his son William Gustavus was but a lad. His wife, Mary Freeburn, was born in Scotland and came with her parents to the United States when eight years of age, — they resided for a time at Philadelphia, but later moved to West Virginia. Mrs. Conley died in 1896, at the age of 82 years, leaving six children: Mary J., John A., Edward B., Ella, William Gustavus, and Mattie. William Gustavus Conley received his education in the common schools of Preston County and West Virginia University at Morgantown, being graduated in law at the latter institution in 1893, with the degree of LL. B. After his admission to the bar, he began practice in the fall of 1893 at Parsons, where he continued until his removal to his present home at Kingwood, in 1903. He was admitted to practice in the Federal courts and is the attorney for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. In January, 1903, he formed a law partnership with Charles D. Smith, under the firm name of Conley & Smith, at Parsons, West Virginia, where he still retains an office. On April 2, 1903, the Nashville College of Law, of Nashville, Tennessee, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. His political affiliation has always been with the Republican party and he has long been regarded as one of its leaders in the northern part of the State. In 1891 he was elected county superintendent of free schools of Preston County, and in 1896 was elected prosecuting attorney of Tucker County, and was re- elected in 1900. During his residence in Parsons, he served a number of terms on the City Council, and was honored by an election as mayor of that city. Mr. Conley has taken a very active part in the various campaigns and has almost constantly served either as a delegate or as a member of some important party organization, he was made assistant secretary of the national convention at St. Louis that nominated the late President McKinley in 1896; was twice a delegate to the national convention of the Republican League Clubs: was six years chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of Tucker County; and for several years was a member of the Republican Congressional Committee. — Mr. Conley is at present serving as assistant secretary of this committee. He is a faithful and appreciated party worker. On July 14, 1892, Mr. Conley was married to Bertie I. Martin, daughter of Samuel and Harriet J. Martin. She was born near Kingwood, June 20, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Conley have had a family of four children, and of these, Lillian and Donald, the eldest and youngest, survive; Willie and Marian are deceased. Mrs. Conley is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Conley of the Presbyterian Church. He is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Kanawha County WV, #13192 FULL-NAME: William G. Conley BIRTH-DATE: January 8, 1866 BIRTH-PLACE: Kingwood, Preston County DEATH-DATE: October 21, 1940 AGE-AT-DEATH: 74y-9m-13d DEATH-PLACE: Kanawha Valley Hosp., 1014 Va. St. E., Charleston, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: 1565 Virginia St., Carleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (Bertie Ison Martin, deceased) OCCUPATION: Attorney / Law Firm FATHER: Major William Conley (born in Preston County) MOTHER: Mary Freeburn (born in Preston County) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Carcinoma of gallbladder ? / cirrhosis of liver ? INFORMANT: Vincent Legg (of 1624 Quarrier St., Charleston) BURIAL: Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Spring Hill, W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tombstone in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Kanawha County, WV William G. Conley January 8, 1866 October 21, 1940 Bertie Ison Martin, wife of W. C. Conley June 30, 1873 October 29, 1939 ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------