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CHARLES E. McALAVEY

Each man to his occupation, and may he have that one in which he is contented, can do his work best, and make life comfortable with the monetary rewards. The livery man has a business in some respects peculiar and adapted only to certain temperaments, but which seems to appeal to farmers, judging from the number of those who leave farming to follow this business. The livery business, like all others, has its agreeable and disagreeable sides. The livery man is necessarily more or less of a lover of horses and so the treatment which his horses receive at the hands of some of those who hire them must be disagreeable to him. Very useful he is, yet the traveling man and the young man, who used to be his best customers, are forsaking him for the automobile garage. To succeed he must possess a knowledge of horses, a knowledge of men, and must be a good manager above all else. Evidently Mr. McAlavey fills all of these requirements.

Charles E. McAlavey was born in Fayette county, Iowa, October 28, 1858, the son of William and Catharine Coleson McAlavey, both natives of Pennsylvania who came to this county in 1855 and settled at Mill Grove, where she died in 1859, and he in October, 1892, aged seventy-six. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living. Mr. McAlavey was always a consistent Democrat. Charles E. McAlavey was brought up on the farm and educated in the common schools. For some time he farmed, then engaged in the livery business, first at Norton Center, Kansas, then at Republican City, Nebraska, later at Sioux City, Iowa, then at Wadena, in this county, and has been in Clermont for three years.

In 1884 Mr. McAlavey married Minnie Lucas, a native of Ohio, daughter of John and Ann (Hagel) Lucas, who came to Fayette county at an early day, and here both died. His married life has been very pleasant, and has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, Pearl and Cassie. Mr. McAlavey is a stanch Republican. He has won a reputation for the character of the horses and turn-outs which are kept in his stable. He is a man of many good points of character and one who is hailed as a good companion by many citizens of the county and passing travelers.  

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Marsha Hyman