Very few surviving Galey descendants remember Elisha Galey.
Born in Branchville, Indiana on March 2, 1863, he was the fourth child born to Simon and Elizabeth Galey. Sometime in the 1870’s, the family moved to northwest Missouri. We don’t know what lured them there – it could have been the beautiful rolling hills and fertile farmlands of the Nodaway River valley. Or it could have been a job with the Burlington Railroad as it forged westward.
By the time of the 1880 census in Green Township, Elisha’s father had died (Mar 1879) and the 17-year-old Elisha had dropped out of school to help his mother and four sisters make ends meet.
Four years later, shortly after he turned 21 years old, Elisha married Eliza Ellen Milleson. That was May 15, 1884. While farming had been a primary pursuit for him, Elisha Galey also worked for Nodaway County and the Burlington Railroad.
Elisha and Eliza had 11 children, and we believe all of them were born in Missouri. However, sometime just prior to World War I, the family – save their son Leslie – set out for Montana, where they lived for nearly a decade along the slopes of the Judith Mountains not far from Lewistown. Little is known about this era of the Galey family; however, it's likely that Elisha pursued farm work during much of this time.
Then Elisha and Eliza, most of their children grown and gone from home, moved to Oregon. It was in the Portland area community of Canby that Elisha and Eliza spent their final years.
Some of their children – son Frank and daughters Ethel, Blanche, and Oma – all lived within a few hours of Canby and were able to help their parents and look after them. Eliza died on February 4, 1953 in Canby at age 85.
Elisha lived another five years. You'll find a few photographs of him in our Galey Gallery. On March 2, 1958, he celebrated his 95th birthday with family and friends. The occasion was documented by the undated newspaper article shown here.
Born in Branchville, Indiana on March 2, 1863, he was the fourth child born to Simon and Elizabeth Galey. Sometime in the 1870’s, the family moved to northwest Missouri. We don’t know what lured them there – it could have been the beautiful rolling hills and fertile farmlands of the Nodaway River valley. Or it could have been a job with the Burlington Railroad as it forged westward.
By the time of the 1880 census in Green Township, Elisha’s father had died (Mar 1879) and the 17-year-old Elisha had dropped out of school to help his mother and four sisters make ends meet.
Four years later, shortly after he turned 21 years old, Elisha married Eliza Ellen Milleson. That was May 15, 1884. While farming had been a primary pursuit for him, Elisha Galey also worked for Nodaway County and the Burlington Railroad.
Elisha and Eliza had 11 children, and we believe all of them were born in Missouri. However, sometime just prior to World War I, the family – save their son Leslie – set out for Montana, where they lived for nearly a decade along the slopes of the Judith Mountains not far from Lewistown. Little is known about this era of the Galey family; however, it's likely that Elisha pursued farm work during much of this time.
Then Elisha and Eliza, most of their children grown and gone from home, moved to Oregon. It was in the Portland area community of Canby that Elisha and Eliza spent their final years.Some of their children – son Frank and daughters Ethel, Blanche, and Oma – all lived within a few hours of Canby and were able to help their parents and look after them. Eliza died on February 4, 1953 in Canby at age 85.
Elisha lived another five years. You'll find a few photographs of him in our Galey Gallery. On March 2, 1958, he celebrated his 95th birthday with family and friends. The occasion was documented by the undated newspaper article shown here.
Elisha Galey passed away on December 5, 1958.
No comments:
Post a Comment