GEORGE BRALEY. Although in the prime of manhood the original of this sketch has settled down to a life of comparative comfort and ease on his farm on section 11, North Otter Township, after having experienced more or less incident and adventure in traveling in the distant portions of the country and engaging in various pursuits. His early days were spent under the roof of his father who was Ellison Braley of Carlinville, of whim a sketch will be found in another part of this volume.
Our subject was one of the family of seven children of whom he was the second in order of birth. His birthplace was Collinsville, Madison County, this State, and he was born December 19, 1842. When he reached manhood he left the parental roof and went to Marysville, Mo., where he was engaged in mercantile business for a period of about four years, at the end of which time he sold out returning to Collinsville.
On Mr. Braley's return to his native place he engaged in farming in Collinsville Township, pursuing this calling for seven years, when he gave up his place and went to Shaw's Point, remaining there two years and then settled in North Otter Township where he has been a resident since the winter of 1880. Farming has been his chief business through life, although he has engaged in various other things. Prior to the beginning of this year he acted as Deputy Postmaster under H. M. Kimball. In 1864, during the last call for volunteers in the late war, our subject enlisted in the one hundred days' campaign and served the full period. He was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois Regiment. On his discharge from the army he was employed as dry-goods clerk in a store in collinsville. This was before he was of age. His first business after he became of age was in woolen mill with Clement & Son, the firm name being Clement, Braley & Co. He was with the firm for one years, when he sold out and engaged in the grocery business. This also he engaged in but a short time with Edward McMillen, under the firm name of Braley & McMillen.
October 27, 1869, Mr. Braley was married to Miss Amy A. Holliday, who was born in Greene County, Ill., March 13, 1846. She is a daughter of Arthur D. and Amanda J. Holliday. Mr. and Mrs. Braley are the parents of five children - Edgar W., Truman H., Florence L., Arthur E. and Howard. Our subject is a Republican in his political preferences, giving his undivided allegiance to that party. he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.