One of the more recent acquisitions to the commercial enterprises of
Girard is Dale Alvin Woolley, who is conducting a hardware and furniture
store. Born in Macoupin county, in North Otter township, on the 14th of
March, 1875, he is a son of Charles A. and Eunice (Langley) Woolley. The
father, who was a son of David Woolley of Kentucky, was also a native of
Illinois, where for many years he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He
came to this county in the early ’70s, locating on a farm which he
cultivated until 1882, when he removed to Girard and engaged in the
lumber business. He was identified with this line until 1884 when he
sold his interest to the Philip Flood Lumber Company, withdrawing from
business activities. From that time until his demise in 1910 he lived
retired. The mother is the daughter of James Langley a representative of
one of the old colonial families of Pennsylvania, some of whose
ancestors participated in the Revolutionary war.
Dale Alvin
Woolley was reared on the farm where he was born and in Girard, where
his parents removed when he was a lad of seven years. He attended the
the public schools of this village until after the completion of his
high school course, when he entered the Western Normal College at
Bushnell, Illinois, from which institution he was awarded the degree of
LL. B. with the class of 1896. While at Bushnell he was proprietor of
the college book store by which means he managed to pay for his
education. For two years thereafter he continued to conduct this
enterprise, disposing of it in April, 1898, when he enlisted in Company
D. Sixth Illinois Volunteers, at Abingdon, Illinois. He was sent to
Porto Rico, where he remained for several months, being mustered out at
Springfield, Illinois, in October of the same year. Returning to
Bushnell he resumed the practice of law, being the successful candidate
for city attorney in 1899. In 1901 he went to Lawton, Oklahoma, where he
homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land and engaged in the
practice of law. Later he took a position in a hardware store, retaining
this until he had proved up on his land. He went to St. Louis in 1903,
obtaining a position with the Simmons Hardware Company, where he
remained for two years, devoting his entire attention to acquiring a
full knowledge of this business. At the expiration of two years, feeling
he was fully competent to undertake the responsibility of a store of his
own he established a store at Tupelo, Oklahoma. Returning to Girard in
1908 he engaged in the hardware business here, soon thereafter he had
the misfortune to lose his stock by fire, but almost immediately resumed
business. In 1908 he purchased the hardware and furniture stock of
Bowersox & Finney, continuing the business under the name of D. A.
Woolley.
Girard was the scene of the marriage of Mr. Woolley on
the 16th of October, 1906, to Miss Elizabeth Pearl McElvain, a daughter
of Jason N. and Nancy J. (Ballinger) McElvain, natives of Kentucky who
for many years have been residents of Nilwood township. Mrs. Woolley is
a granddaughter of the Rev. John H. Ballinger and William McElvain, of
Virginia. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Woolley, both of whom
died in infancy.
They affiliate with the Presbyterian church,
while fraternally Mr. Woolley is identified with the Knights of Pythias,
being a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 131, K. of P., in which he has
filled all of the chairs. He also belongs to Peach Tree Camp, No. 663,
of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Girard Gun Club and the Illinois
Hardware Dealers’ Association. Mr. Woolley votes with the republican
party, but since engaging in business has not prominently participated
in political activities. He is one of the capable representatives of the
commercial circles of Girard, whose methods of conducting his business
are such as to win the patronage of the general population. During the
three years he has been conducting his store he has met with good
success, each year’s receipts having shown a gratifying advance over
those of the preceding year.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 675-676.
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