History of Dauphin County. GENEALOGICAL MEMOIRS. Volume III

By Luther Reily Kelker, The Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1907 Page 40-60 Transcribed by Nancy Piper for Genealogy Trails

Reily Family (Page 42f-42h)

(IV) Dr. George Wolf Reily, son of Dr. Luther and Rebecca (Orth) Reily, was born November 31, 1834, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He resided in that city all of his life with the exception of a short period spent in Pittsburg. He attended the Harrisburg Academy, the head of which was Rev. Mahlon Long, and he was a schoolmate of Professor T. F. Seilers. He graduated from Yale College in 1854, and took a one year course in a large banking house in Pittsburg. He then returned to Harrisburg and studied medicine with Dr. Edward L. Orth, who had been associated with his father, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1859. He entered upon the practice of his profession and vats successful. He was especially kind to the pow, whom he not only helped by his skill as a physician, but with his means. Many stories are related of his visits to helpless and indigent patients, and of the charitable deeds of both himself and wife. He was elected president of the Harrisburg National Bank, September 28, 1870, to succeed Judge Valentine, and abandoned practice, to the regret of hundreds of families, to devote his entire attention to banking. He was president of the Harrisburg Gas Company, Harrisburg Boiler Manufactoring Company, and a director of the Harrisburg Academy, City Passenger Railway Company, Harrisburg Burial Case Company, Harrisburg Furniture Company, Kclker Street Market Company, Harrisburg Bridge Company, and other corporations. He was ever ready to help the struggling business man, and many young men owed their start in life to his assistance. He was a decided Democrat, and in religion a Presbyterian, belonging to Market Square church many years.

Dr. George W. Reily married, February 8, 1861, Elizabeth Hummel Kerr, born February 8, 1841, daughter of William M. and Elizabeth (Hummel) Kerr. William M. Kerr was at one time president of the Harrisburg Bank. He was son of the Rev. William Kerr, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Donegal; he married Mary Wilson, only child of James and Mary ( Elder) Wilson, the latter a daughter of John Elder, well known in Dauphin county and the state at large. Elizabeth (Hummel) Kerr, wife of William M. Kerr, was a daughter of Judge Hummel. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Reily: Elizabeth Hummel, born October 13, 1867, married, October 2, 1889, Edward Bailey, and their children are: Elizabeth, Martha and George Reily Bailey. 2. George Wolf, Jr., see forward. 3. Caroline. All of these children, with their mother, survived Dr. Reily. The death of Dr. Reily, on February 8, 1892, was the result of a complication of diseases which confined him to his room a few months prior to his death. A coincidence in his death was furnished by the fact that he was called home from Yale College, February 20, 1854, to attend the funeral of his father, just as his son, George Wolf, Jr., was summoned from his studies at Yale to pay the last tribute of respect to him. The statement was made at the time of his death that "He has gone to receive the reward promised by Him who said, 'He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.' " Dr. Reily was a man and a citizen without guile. He was domestic in his tastes and spent most of his time in the bosom of his family. He found his chief pleasure with those nearest and dearest to him, and was always content when they were around him. He was very fond of books, and was one of the best informed men in Harrisburg on all current topics. He was frequently mentioned for office, but always seemed averse to office holding.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 28 2019, 3:12:22 UTC