Bios: ROBERT H. ALEY, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ed McClelland
An html version of this volume may be found at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1908/
************************************************
ROBERT H. ALEY,
[p. 562] one of Wampum's representative business men and junior member
of the firm of Miles & Aley, dealers in hardware, on Main Street,
Wampum, was born in this town March 15, 1875. His parents were William
and Mary (Stiner) Aley.
Michael Aley, the great-grandfather, was a German by birth and was one
of the pioneer settlers in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He had five
children: Catherine, Ann, John, Michael and Jonathan. The last named was
the grandfather of Robert Aley. His brothers were farmers, but he
learned the blacksmith trade. He married Ann Edwards, whose parents came
to Beaver County from Maryland, in early days. The children of Jonathan
and Ann Aley were as follows: Alfred and Joseph, both deceased; Emeline
married Edward Day, deceased; Deborah, deceased, was the wife of Hon.
James McAnlis; John died young; Isaiah, Charles, William and Robert
Henry, the latter of whom is the oldest resident of Wampum, having been
born July 28, 1836.
William Aley, father of Robert H. Aley, Jr., was born in Beaver County,
near the Lawrence County line. In his youth he worked in the limestone
quarries and during the most of his active years he was more or less
engaged in quarrying. He married Mary Stiner, of Mercer County, and they
had four children, namely: Robert H., John, who died in boyhood; Lulu,
who died in childhood, and Verna, who is the wife of Frank Miles.
William Aley and wife are among the most highly esteemed residents of
Wampum.
Robert H. Aley attended the public schools of Wampum, remaining at his
books until he was about twenty years of age, and then went to work in
the coal banks, where he labored for six years. He then entered the
employ of Davis & Harris and worked for three years in their sandstone
quarries. Mr. Aley next became a clerk for the Wampum Supply Company and
remained with that concern for three years. His next employer was
Charles Stapf, and with him he remained for six years as a clerk. In
May, 1906, Mr. Aley, in partnership with C. F. Miles, opened up a small
slating and tinning business, locating it on Beaver Street, and they
subsequently added a line of hardware. The enterprise prospered, and by
March 20, 1907, had outgrown the old quarters, necessitating a removal
to more commodious ones. The firm then came to the present location on
Main Street, where they carry a full line of hardware, tin and slate
roofing, farm implements, hot water and hot air equipments, paints and
everything usually to be found in first-class business houses of their
kind. The stock occupies both floors of their building. Mr. Aley and Mr.
Miles employ two men, and both are active in the management, dividing
their labors. Mr. Aley looks after the store and retail business, while
Mr. Miles, who is a practical roofer of many years' standing, takes care
of the work in that line.
On September 10, 1900, Mr. Aley was married to Mary Sprinker, who is a
daughter of Nicholas Sprinker. They have one child, Paul, who was born
June 7, 1906. Mr. Aley owns a handsome residence on Clyde Street, in the
Stapf addition to Wampum. In politics, Mr. Aley is a Democrat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and
Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Updated: 6 Nov 2001