Mercer County PAGenWeb


Herman Elsworth Ealy


HERMAN ELSWORTH EALY, prominently identified with the farming and stock-raising interests of Delaware township, is a member of a family who have been long and closely connected with the history of the community, known for their true worth and ability. Jacob S. Ealy, his father, was born in the year of 1830 and died in 1904. He came from Mifflin county, this state, to Mercer county in 1848 and located on a farm in Delaware township. He had in his early life learned the shoemaker’s trade, and followed that occupation until about the year of 1888, when he retired to his farm. He married Anna, a daughter of John Koser, who also came here from Mifflin county, coming in 1844, and he located on a farm in Delaware township. He was a carpenter by trade.  In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ealy  were ten children, namely: Eva Alfretta, John Milton, Alvin H., William Prescott (deceased), Herman Elsworth, Annie May (who died when three years of age), Victor Lincoln, Elmer Luplev, Marion (who died aged seventeen years), and Harvey L.   Mrs. Ealy,  the mother, died in July of 1889. Mr. Ealy  was a Republican politically. Both husband and wife were members of the Presbyterian church for many years, or until the church disbanded, and they then united with the Methodist church.

Herman E. Ealy, born on the 6th of April, 1861, in Delaware township, has followed farming during the past eighteen years. He attended the common schools of this township and the Grove City College, and was afterward a clerk in the store of C. M. Derickson, of Pardoe, for two years, while for fifteen years following this he operated a saw mill. On the 27th of November, 1884, he was married to Sarah McCleery, a daughter of Joseph and Elvira (Greenman) McCleery, pioneer farmers of Delaware township, which is the birthplace of their daughter Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. McCleery were born respectively in Delaware township and Wellsburg, New York, and the father died on the 4th of March, 1899, and the mother on the 4th of May, 1897. They were the parents of five children: Arthur G., James O., Charlotte, Sarah, and Ninetta. In politics Joseph McCleery was a Republican, and he served as a school director of Delaware township, one term as a county surveyor, and for a number of years was a justice of the peace of Delaware township. He was one of the organizers of the Delaware Grange and for many years one of its active members.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ealy have been born three children: Arthur McCleery, born March 17, 1890; DeWitt, who was born in 1895 and died in 1900; and Marion, an adopted child, born August 19, 1900. Mr. Ealy has served as a school director of Delaware township, and in politics, is a Republican. He is one of the upright, progressive and honored residents of Delaware township, and for a number of years he has served as the agent for the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 864-865


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