Rev. John Galey
Rev. John Gailey is the son of the late Rev. Richard Gailey, of the United Presbyterian Church. He was born in Madison, Penn., and when a child came with his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where he was brought up. He graduated from Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, in June, 1861, being, it is believed, with one exception, the youngest to graduate from the college. The following winter he entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Penn., from which he graduated in March, 1866, having in the meantime taught for a year, and served several months in the army in the summer of 1864. He was licensed to preach by the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Monongahela, April 12, 1865. He accepted a call from Butler, Penn., December 26, 1865, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Butler, and installed pastor of Butler congregation, April 24, 1866. In November, 1868, having been granted a vacation by his congregation, on account of failing health, he went to Nashville, Tenn., and engaged in work among the Freedmen under the direction of the United Presbyterian Board, returning to his congregation in May, 1869. In November, 1870, he declined an informal call from the First Church at Washington, Iowa. He resigned the charge of Butler congregation December 26, 1871, and accepted a call from the Fourth United Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Penn., of which he took charge January 1, 1872, and was formally installed pastor March 26, 1872.
In May, 1872, in connection with the Rev. R. B. Robertson, he published "The Psalter," the entire book of psalms set to music for use in the praise service in the churches of his denomination. It was indorsed by the General Assembly, was the first and for fifteen years the only complete book of the kind in the denomination. He declined a call from Butler, Penn., his former charge, September 23, 1873; declined a call from St. Louis, Mo., March 28, 1876; resigned the charge of the Fourth Church, Pittsburgh, on account of ill health, October 17, 1877, and was unable to preach for a year. He served the congregation at Utica, Ohio, as stated supply and pastor, from June 1, 1879, until June 9, 1885, during which time the congegation built a beautiful house of worship. He declined a call from Millersburgh, Ohio, in 1883; also a call from New Lisbon, Ohio in September, 1885. He accepted a call from Millersburgh, Ohio, in September 1885, and was installed pastor by the Presbytery of Mansfield, January 9, 1886.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889