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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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EDWARD ALLEY, cashier of the First National Bank of Cortland, and a young man of sterling quality, is a son of Joseph and Frances (Stoyell) Alley, and was born February 24, 1864, in Moravia, N. Y. The family is of French antecedents.

William Alley, the grandfather, attended the public school in his boyhood and then learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed all his life at Moravia, N. Y. His children were: Morris; Alfred; Edgar; Mary, now Mrs. Adams; Lucinda (Cuykendall); Phoebe, now Mrs. Tubbs; and Joseph, the father of this subject, who was born in Moravia, this state, in 1832. Joseph Alley was well educated, and is an intelligent, well informed man. His primary education was obtained in the common schools, and was still further increased by attendance at the Moravia Academy. After leaving school he went on a western trip, which extended as far as Cedar Rapids, Ia.; he remained there until 1853, when he returned to New York and engaged in farming in Moravia, an occupation he has followed ever since. He is at present at Groton, Tompkins County, N. Y., where he is quite successfully operating the farm owned by him, upon which he resides. In politics he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but he has never allowed himself to be drawn into the circle of office seekers. He is a member of the First Congregational Church of Moravia, and has taken a great interest and an active part in all the affairs of that organization. He was married to Frances Stoyell, who still lives to cheer his declining years, after rearing four children; Stoyell; May (Mrs. Aaron Whitman); Louise; and Edward.

Edward Alley showed a great aptitude for learning, and after leaving the common schools entered the Moravia High School, where he applied himself diligently to his books. When his school days were over he worked for his father, both on the farm and in the mill, until October 2, 1883, when he entered the National Bank of Moravia as bookkeeper, remaining there for six months, when he accepted a position with the Moravia Boot and Shoe Co. In the spring of 1884, he secured a position with the First National Bank of Cortland, and on the 14th of May began his duties as bookkeeper in that institution, which post he held until January 1, 1889, when he was advanced to the trusted position of cashier, which he still occupies. He is a Republican, and was chosen by his party as treasurer of Cortland village for two years.

Mr. Alley married Miss Elizabeth Newkirk, a daughter of William S. Newkirk, September 7, 1886. They have one child, Frances. Mr. and Mrs. Alley are attendants of Grace Episcopal Church, of which they are consistent and active working members, and of which he is also an officer. He is a man of pleasing address and frank disposition, and has made many warm friends since coming to this county.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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