[p. 710] manager and one of the proprietors of the Shenango Roller Mills of Mahoningtown, has been established in this business at this point since 1875. He was born in Lawrence County, just above Edenburg, August 26, 1843, and is a son of John D. and Jane (Park) Raney.
For some years the father of Mr. Raney engaged in milling, owning a mill near Edenburg, but in 1859 he removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where he embarked in a dry goods business. He became a man of prominence there, and served for two terms as mayor of that city.
James A. Raney was thirteen years of age when his parents located at Youngstown, and after that he was employed during the summer seasons for several years in the mill situated at the foot of Champion Street, and went to school during the winters. This mill was owned by his two older brothers, Bostic and Almon Raney. In 1864, James A. Raney enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served four months. When he returned to Youngstown, he resumed work in the mill, and continued there until he came to Mahoningtown, in 1875. The Shenango Roller Mill was built by Mr. Raney's uncle, James Raney, who was a miller and millwright in Lawrence County for sixty years and built and operated many mills. The present owners of the mill are James A. Raney and Mrs. L. Raney. It is a modern, well equipped mill, it's machinery including Stevens and Garden City rolls. The mill's specialty is the White Lilly brand of flour.
Mr. Raney was married at Youngstown, Ohio, to Lois McCollum, who is a daughter of Ira McCollum, and they have five children, namely: Myron, who is an engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, married Rachel Kincaid, and has one child, Helen; Jessie, who married Andrew Murphy; Paul, who is cashier in the New Castle Waterworks office; Daisy, who married Walter Harlan, has one child, James; and Ralph, who is employed in the Shenango mill.
Mr. Raney has taken an active interest in public affairs at Mahoningtown, and served as its first mayor.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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