Benjamin Franklin Nealley (commonly known as B. Frank Nealley) was born in So. Berwick, Me. on Oct. 24, 1839, the eldest son of Benjamin and Abbie (Pray) Nealley. At age 18 Mr. Nealley came to Dover and started his own dry goods store which he ran for the next 36 years. In 1893 he sold the business to his brother John Haven Nealley. Active in civic affairs, B. Frank Nealley was mayor of Dover (1889-90), member of the Dover Common Council, a Representative to the General Court, State Senator (1887-88), a trustee of the Dover Public Library, chairman of the City Hall Building Committee, a president of the Masonic Building Association, a director of two banks, and a founder of the Dover Navigation Company serving as its secretary/treasurer from 1878 till his death, and one of their schooners was named for him. He was also the first president of Dover District Nursing Assoc. On Aug 1, 1866, Mr. Nealley married Harriet Ruth Colby (b. May 14, 1846) the daughter of Rev. John T.G. and Camelia (Horne) Colby of Dover and they lived at 74 Silver Street. Harriet died Oct. 12, 1903 and B. Frank Nealley died March 27, 1911. They had five children, all of whom died in childhood. After B. Frank Nealley died, his sister Marie E. Foss occupied the home at 74 Silver Street until her death on July 27, 1917.
Photograph from Dover Public Library archives, text from Marston, Robert, Dover, NH: People, Businesses and Organizations: 1850 to 1950. Dover, NH, 2004.