Roley S. Pauley, State senator and leading stockman and farmer, of Beattie, Kan., is a native of Indian. He was born in Monroe county, June 23, 1849, a son of Solomon and Amercus (Smock) Pauley. The former was born in Lexington, Ky., and the latter at Bloomington, Ind. In 1855 the family removed to Iowa, settling in Monroe county, where the father followed farming until his death, October 18, 1892, and where the mother now resides.

Roley S. Pauley was reared on the farm and educated in the country schools, and took a course in the business college at Burlington, Iowa. He remained on the home farm in Iowa until the spring of 1878, when he came to Kansas, locating in Marshall county. He began on a rented farm, and in 1882 bought the farm where he now resides. When he came this section of the country was sparsely settled and the towns of Axtell and Beattie had just been started. He brought four head of horses with him, and with this outfit began life in the new country. During his first two years in Kansas he was unmarried, and lived alone, keeping house for himself.

On December 22, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Nora E. Totten, daughter of Joseph and Susan Totten, natives of Illinois, who came to Kansas in the early '60s, settling in Marshall county, where the father followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1892, and ten years later his widow passed away. Mrs. Pauley was born in Marshall county and received her education in the public schools of Beattie. To Mr. and Mrs. Pauley have been born nine children, six of whom are living: Della E., at home; Ray S., who married Nellie E. Graham and resides in Rook township, Marshall county, they have two children, Martin and Calvin; Susan A., deceased; Jesse T., at home; Lulu A., deceased; Elsie T., at home; Cora E., at home; Mayne, at home; and Roley, deceased.

Early in his farming career in Marshall county Mr. Pauley began raising standard bred stock, but made a specialty of no particular breed. He also fed cattle for the market a few years, but finally drifted into general farming and stock raising and has been very successful in this line of endeavor. In 1896 he was elected county treasurer and at the expiration of his first term was reëlected, serving four years. He is a Republican and an active worker in his party and has been a delegate to several State, Congressional and National conventions. While he was county treasurer he resided in Marysville, but at the expiration of his term returned to his farm. In 1912 he was elected State senator for a term of four years and represented the Nineteenth senatorial district in the session of 1913 and served as a member of the following committees: Live Stock, Fish and Game, and Hygiene.

Mr. Pauley has been active in other enterprises as well as farming and politics. He was one of the organizers of the Bremen State Bank, of Bremen, the Citizens State Bank, of Marysville, and the State Bank, of Bigelow, but has recently disposed of his interests in these institutions. He is now interested in the Mutual Telephone Company and for one term was secretary of that company. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Pauley family belongs to the Baptist church.