The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-09-29
A TRIBUTE.
Continued from page onep

--o---~>->c-~-'--~>>>->>>>> -
to be crowned with phenomenal sue
cess and honor, Early in his
youth he learned to rely on himself,
was willing to risk his own Judgment
and to his undaunted soul there sell
dom came the thought OF failure
steadily he fought his way to the front
and easily maintained his vantage
ground with each new proposition,
new investment; and, despite his var
in the handling of large business in
terests-railroad corporations and
mining corporations. oil investments,
he leaves as a legacy to his family. a
spotless reputation-his escutcheon
was clean. and in his death he closed
a career as honorable as It was use
ful--peaCe to his ashes.
His life briefly summarized Is as
follows:
Martin Leslie Conley was 81 years
old second son of A. j. and Elizabeth
Conley. Early in life he learned the
printers trade In the Big Sandy
News office. but later decided he
wanted to be an engineer. and to this
end he saved his money and took civil
engineering at State College, now
State University. Lexington. Ny
To prepare for entrance there he stud
led and reCitcd at night to Prof Gay
hart, working every day. After grad
uation his first .position was with the
Southern Railway Company; next with
l. s Engineering TJepartrrenl in Pitts
burg Districr-lock and dam work In
the year 1895 he decided to go 10
Alaska, but X. NJ Broas and j. e
Thomas offered him the position OF
Assistant Engineer OF a new railroad
enterprise and he accepted it, abau-
doning his going TO Alaska. Subse-
quently Mr.. Thomas resigned his po-
sitiun as Chief Engineer Of the new
railroad construction and Mr.. Conley
was promoted to Chief Engineer. and
when the road was completed he was
made Superintendent and General
Manager of the Ohio a Kentucky Rail-
way, a position which he held up to
his death. Later he vas In charge Of
the Camel CITY coal mines. property
belonging to the same eastern CAPT
talists who owned the railroad OF
which Mr.. Conley was the Superin-
tendent and General Manager. In his
management and supervision of the
Camel City coal mines Mr. Conley
was universally popular-built what
was then considered a model mining
town. Camel CITY. Kentucky. and in
this mining camp he took and trained
the natives for all of the more i'm
portant places connected with coal op-
erations as a result of which there
was never a strike at this plant. a fact
of which Mr.. Conley had a right to be
proud. He had, however rendered
his resignation some two wears ago
1t had not been accepted. but il was
his purpose to insist on being relieved
on or before January |. 1929 Mr.. Con
lev orpanizsd tho NIoryar Co,,rtv
National Bank about eighteen years
ago and served as it's president IN to
the date of his death. It is a very sue
cessfuI institution.
The last Legislature Of Kentucky
named Mr., Conley as a member Of the
State Highway Commission. writing
his name into the bill crentfDg. The
Commission. although he was not an
applicant. He was selected brcausp Of
his special fitness and qualification by
education and training to have charge
If road building in Kentucky.
We do not attempt to write in detail
a record of the life of Martin Leslie
Conley. His life was so full and com
nlete that the pen falters and he who
reads will realize the futility OF at
tempting to collaborate complete
account of such a man.
The deceased leaves a wife and
three children. all boys: Leslie age
IL Richard. age 9: Mart. age s. His
wife was Miss Anna Adams. Of Leb-
anon, Kentucky a most excellent wo-
man. as we are reliably informed. The
writer mas not had the pleasure Of an
intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Con-