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James Alley was born in Moravia, Cayuga Co., N. Y., 

 March 25, 1810. He is a lineal descendant of the third 



generation from his ancestor, Alley, who was of 



French birth, and settled in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where 

 his father, William Alley, was born in 1763, and was 

 married to Phebe Dusenbury, and in the year 1798 re- 

 moved to Cayuga County, and during his life followed 

 farming and worked some at his trade as a mason. He 

 died in Moravia at the age of eighty-seven. His wife 

 died at the age of sixty-seven. 



The family consisted of eight sons and two daughters, of 

 whom Mr. James Alley was sixth son. 



Until he was eighteen he spent his time on the farm of his 

 father and attending the common school, followed by five 

 years as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Moravia, 

 where he laid the foundation for his subsequent career as a 

 merchant and business man. 



In the year 1833 he settled in the town of Howard, 

 this county, and started mercantile business for himself, 

 carting his goods from Hammondsport. During these days 

 staging it to Albany was the quickest mode of transit. 



Mr. Alley remained as a merchant in Howard until 1849, 

 and during that time, in the year 1836, was married to 

 Julia, daughter of Charles Graves, of that town. 



By this union were born (that now are living) two chil- 

 dren, Charles G., a lumber merchant of Whitehall, Mich., 

 and Mrs. George M. Smith, of the same place. 



Upon the close of his mercantile business in Howard he 

 removed to Hornellsville, and for twenty-one years was a 

 dry-goods merchant of this place. Mr. Alley was also en- 

 gaged in other enterprises while in the mercantile business 

 here. 



In the year 1870 he commenced operations in the lumber 

 business at Whitehall, Mich., purchasing at that time and 

 since some five thousand acres of land. In this business 

 now, which has become largely successful, he has associated 

 his son and also his son-in-law. 



While a resident of the town of Howard, Mr. Alley 

 was honored with the offices of clerk and supervisor several 

 terms each, and in 1850 represented his Assembly district 

 in the State Legislature. He was formerly identified with 

 the Whig party, and upon the formation of the Republican 

 party became a supporter of its principles. 



In the year 1877 his wife died, and in the year 1878 

 he married Mrs. Amanda Sweetland, of Hornellsville. Mr. 

 Alley still retains his residence at Hornellsville, although 

 he spends much time in connection with his lumber business 

 in Michigan. 



