Matthew Earley (1829 – 1917)

& Mary Earley (1840 – 1900)

Class of 2026 – Founders

Matthew Earley was born in Poland, Ohio on Oct. 29, 1829 and came to the Alliance area in 1859.  He operated a tannery at Vine Street and Walnut Avenue, owned a machine shop in Bolton, Ohio, and was at one time a city councilman for Alliance. 

Mary Edwards was born on Apr. 16, 1840 in the Fairmount area of Washington Township, just south of Mount Union.  Matthew and Mary married in 1865.  In 1867 they built their beautiful Victorian Italianate home on North Park Avenue in what was then the village of Freedom.  The house is now owned and operated by the Alliance Historical Society

Mary Edwards Earley enjoyed taking care of her home and family and doing church work.  She was also a member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, Daughters of Rebekah, and Daughters of America.  Mrs. Earley gave financial and volunteer support to the schools, the public library, and the City Relief Committee. 

Matthew and Mary Earley never had any children of their own, but they did adopt Mabel Hartzell in 1885.