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- "....Great regret was expressed throughout the trade when the death of Mr Allan Staley, manager for Rolfe & Co. became known. Born in 1867 at Yandoit, near Castlemaine, where his father had a store, Mr Staley was brought up with his four brothers. When his school days were over and he had gained some experience, he went to Telford, his brothers Andrew and David having opened stores at Wilby and Telford. They gave him the management at the latter town, while the original business at Yandoit, with a branch at Smeaton, was carried on under the style of Staley and Connell - Mrs Connell being the only sister. Some little while later Allan Staley went to Hay, New South Wales, where he carried on a bookseller and stationers busines, but after two or three years he sold out to advantage and moved to Swan Hill, accepting an engagement with his two brothers in their store, and he stayed there until 1894. At the latter end of this year, he joined the staff of Messrs. Rolfe and Co. as country traveller, just prior to the death of Mr. Deary. Shortly after Mr. C. Campbell was appointed manager. Mr. Staley had been on the roads about ten years with an excellent record, when in August, 1905 , Mr. Campbell died, and he waas appointed to the vacant position, which he held until his death, giving satisfaction to his employers and their numerous customers and winning goodwill from all. Mr. Staley was a comparatively young man, being only 47 years of age at the time of his death. His kindly nature and his great energy and capacity for work made him friends everywhere, and enabled him to rise from a young country storekeeper to the position of manager of one of Melbourne's oldest and best known wholesale grocery houses. Mr. Staley was married to Miss Peacock, the daughter of Mr. Wm. Peacock, one of the partners in Messrs. Robertson and Moffat, whom he leaves with two children to mourn his death, besides his three brothers and his sister, and a host of friends among our readers...." The Australian Storekeeper , June 30, 1913
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