Fred Falley. America owes much of her progress and advancement to a position foremost among the nations of the world to her newspapers, and in no line has the incidental broadening out of the sphere of usefulness been more marked than in this same line of journalism. North Dakota has enlisted in the newspaper field some of the strongest intellects in the state—men of broad mental grasp, cosmopolitan ideas and notable business sagacity. Prominent among these is Fred Falley, the present secretary of state, and editor of the "Wahpeton Globe."
He was born in York, Clay County, Illinois, July 1, 1859, a son of Richard and Louisa (Scranton) Falley, natives of Massachusetts and Illinois, respectively. The father, who was a wagon-maker by trade, removed to Illinois in 1842, and there died in 1877. The mother departed this life in the same state in 1868. Our subject received a good high-school education in his native county, and during his youth learned the printer's trade at Lancaster, Wisconsin, under Edward Pollock, who was then publishing the "Grant County Herald." Coming to North Dakota in 188o, he located at Wahpeton, where he worked at his trade about four years. In 1883 he founded the "Sargent County Teller" at Milnor, North Dakota, and conducted that paper until 1887, when he purchased the "Wahpeton Globe," which he is still successfully carrying on. It is one of the best papers published in the state and is the Republican organ of Richland County.
In 1885 Mr. Falley married Miss Clara Mitchell, who died in 1892, leaving one son, Richard M. He was again married in 1896, his second union being with Mrs. Sadie Pratt, by whom he has one son, Morgan. Fraternally Mr. Fancy is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically he is a pronounced Republican. He served as secretary of the state senate for several sessions, and in 1896 was elected secretary of state and re-elected in 1898. He has proved a most efficient and popular officer, and during his incumbency has made a host of warm friends throughout the state.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 179