Charles E. Worley is a dealer in harness, coal, automobiles and supplies at Ryan, where he is conducting a profitable and growing business.
      He was born in Hazel Green, Iowa, on the 21st of August, 1864, a son of Joseph and Electa (Malory) Worley, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. In the year 1843 the mother came from the Hoosier state to Iowa, settling on a farm in Delaware county. In 1847 Joseph Worley arrived and they were married in this county. Nine children were born unto them. Mary became the wife of George Belknap, a farmer of Prairie township, and died in 1910. Martha became the wife of Willis Collins and for several years lived in Hazel Green township but afterward removed to a farm near Des Moines, where Mr. Collins passed away in 1901. His widow is now living north of Des Moines. Hester became the wife of Sylvester Green and both have passed away. Eliza is the wife of Samuel Morgan and is a resident of Manchester. Frank is living at Baldwin Park, California. Margaret became the wife of Charles Palmer, of Sac county, Iowa, and, removing to Texas, both passed away in that state. Susie is the wife of Oss Earley and they are now residents of San Jose, California. Charlotte is the wife of Robert Snodgrass, who is living in Sheridan county, Nebraska.
       The other member of the family is Charles E. Worley, who acquired his education in the schools of Union township and of Hazel Green township and also spent one year as a student in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. On the 28th of December, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Connor, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Cavanaugh) Connor. Her father, a native of Pennsylvania, arrived in Delaware county, Iowa, in 1854, and the mother, a native of Ireland, left that country with her parents and settled at Delhi, Iowa, in 1854. Throughout the years of his active life Mr. Connor followed the occupation of farming but in his later years lived retired, passing away September 26, 1914. His widow now lives with her son inlaw and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Worley, unto whom have been born three children: Eva, Marie and Ruby, all yet at home.
     Charles E. Worley was twenty years of age when he left Iowa and went to Nebraska, where he remained until 1893, during which time he was engaged in ranching and breaking horses. He also worked for two years in the harness business but in 1893 returned to Iowa and for a year thereafter engaged in farming. He then embarked in the harness business in Ryan, where he is now engaged in handling not only harness but also coal, automobiles and supplies. He has a well appointed store and he has sold more buggies than almost any man in the county in the same length of time. In addition to his business here he owns six hundred acres of land on the Grand Prairie of Arkansas, his old homestead of four hundred acres in Nebraska and three hundred acres in South Dakota and from his property interests derives a substantial annual income.
      Mr. Worley is a man of sound business judgment who readily recognizes and utilizes opportunities and makes wise use of his time and talents. When obstacles and difficulties arise, they do not seem to deter him but rather act as an impetus for renewed effort and thus he has gradually advanced, making a creditable record in business circles, his methods being thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and has been prominent in public affairs of his community, serving for four years as mayor of Ryan, during which period he gave to the town a public-spirited and businesslike administration of benefit along various lines.