Maj. William Conley

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205280147/william-conley

From a biography by Fred Conley on werelate.org:

William Conley was director at the Preston Academy in Kingwood, WV, likely completing his 14-year term just before the Civil War. He later served as a teacher at the Reedsville School. He was also a farmer and a contractor, and one of the builders of the Northwestern, and Morgantown and Kingwood Turnpikes (Historic Structure Report for the Preston Academy, 2002).

He married Mary Courtney Freeburn, of Scotland, about 1846, in Preston County, The couple had 6 children, including William Gustavus, who would become governor of West Virginia from 1929-33.

In 1850, William and his family were living at the home of William McGinnis, in Preston County, WV. Their home was near his wife Mary's father and mother, Robert and Elizabeth Laird Freeburn (US Census 1850). William was part of the Preston County Militia before the Civil War and held the rank of Major (Wiley). He also served the county as Deputy Sheriff (History of West Virginia and Its People). James W. Posten, his brother-in-law, aged 36, was employed as a farm laborer and living with the family in 1860. (U.S. Census).

In 1870, the family was living in Valley Township. Solomon and Thomas Conley, sons of Washington Conley, were also living with them. (US Census). This home was next to the home of William's mother, then a widow. Her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (wife of Washington Abraham Conley), also a widow, was living with her. Elias Conley's home was on the other side (1870 Federal Census). All three dwellings were likely on the road at the entrance to the Morgan Mine road near Reedsville.

According to the book "West Virginia and Its People," William's death would have been about 1874, when his son William Gustavus was 8 years old. William was buried in an unmarked grave near Bethlehem, in Fortney/Pyles Cemetery. This was adjacent to the Conley property (Pete Holmes). In later years, Major William was said to have suffered from addictions to gambling and alcohol, and not respected by his family. Some family believe this is the reason he is not buried with his wife.