BIO: Walter F. RAYLE, Beaver County, PA
    
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    BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
    of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
    Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 91-93.
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    DR. WALTER F. RAYLE, a leading dentist of Beaver Falls, Pa., where he is
  recognized as a man well versed in his profession, is a scholarly, refined
  gentleman and has never been known to neglect his duty. It is characteristic
  of the man, that when he takes up a project or advocates new procedures in
  his profession or in business, he throws his whole soul into the affair in
  hand, and does all that can be done to bring matters to a successful
  conclusion. This very characteristic has won for him a host of patients and
  loyal friends whom he serves faithfully. Dr. Rayle was born July 31, 1849, in
  South Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, is a son of John and Jane
  (Wells) Rayle and grandson of William Rayle. Receiving quite an ordinary
  education in the common schools, he then took a most thorough course at the
  Worcester High School, in
    
    92  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
    
  Ohio. After choosing the profession of dentistry as his life work, he
  endeavored to fit himself by studying in the office of Dr. Jones of
  Worcester, a leading practitioner in that profession.
    
    Walter F. Rayle passed the examination, in 1867, successfully, and at once
  located in Darlington, where he established an office and by his pleasant,
  courteous manner and good habits, won the respect of the people in general,
  who soon began to need his professional services. Leaving quite a nice little
  practice in Darlington in 1870, Dr. Rayle removed to New Wilmington, where he
  pursued the same calling for six years. In 1876, he located in Beaver Falls,
  where he is still to be found. In his political views, he is a Republican,
  and steadfastly supports the measures and men of his party through victory or
  defeat. Dr. Rayle is a member of the McKinley Pioneer Club of Beaver Falls,
  and is chairman of the executive committee. The Doctor is also a school
  director, elected by the first ward, and has served in other local offices.
  He is responsive to charitable appeals, and occupies an important position as
  a man of standing in the community. He has been a faithful member of the
  Presbyterian church ever since he attained the age of eighteen years, and has
  led an industrious, useful and eminently successful life, unsullied by deeds
  of wrong.
    
    Dr. Rayle was joined in marriage with Josephine Murray, who has borne him
  three children, namely: Amy Pearl, who is still at home; Bessie Jean, a
  teacher in the public school; and Charles Clifton. Bessie Jean graduated from
  the high school with highest honors in a class of 16, and is also a graduate
  of Slippery Rock Normal School. The Doctor is a prominent member of Walnut
  Camp No. 2, Woodmen of the World, and has been secretary of the camp for a
  period of seven years.
    
    William Rayle, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was one of the
  pioneer settlers of Beaver county, where he pursued the peaceful occupation
  of a farmer all his active days. He was an old line Whig and served one term
  as county commissioner; in fact he was filling that office at the time of his
  death, which occurred at the age of fifty-four years.
    
    John Rayle, the father of Walter F., was born in Beaver county, Pa.,
  December 3, 1805. He spent his entire life as a resident of the same county,
  and died July 13, 1882. He was also a farmer by occupation and, in
  conjunction, conducted a blacksmith shop on his farm. In a religious
  connection he was identified with the Free Presbyterian denomination at
  Darlington, of which church he was an elder. He chose for his life partner
  Jane Wells, a daughter of Joseph Wells. She bore her husband seven children,
  viz: Jane Belinda, widow of John Kerr; Ann Matilda, wife of Josiah Long, who
  resides on College Hill, where Mr. Long carries on farming; William D., who
  lives in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he is known as a progressive farmer;
  Joseph Wells, who lives at Canal Fulton, Stark county, Ohio, and is engaged
  in mercantile pursuits; John B., who is also a mer-
    
    BEAVER COUNTY  93
    
  chant at Beaver Falls; Susanna B., wife of John Barclay, of Alliance, Ohio,
  also a merchant; and Walter F., the subject of this sketch.
    
    The maternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Wells, was an old settler
  of Beaver county, and owned a large farm, which included nearly all of the
  land now occupied by Patterson Heights. In connection with his agricultural
  pursuits, Mr. Wells conducted a hotel, and was an enterprising,
  public-spirited citizen.