This firm was founded in 1865 as Sechler, Riley & Co., composed of Michael Sechler, William P. Riley, and his brother Daniel. They operated a foundry whose products included plows and stoves. Within a year the company had become Heathcote, Riley & Co., and subsequently to Riley & Maitland, until 1878 when Maitland retired. The business continued as a sole proprietorship under W. P. Riley, who operated under the name Valley Iron Works

An 1873 patent for a reciprocating sawmill was granted to one Bernhard Berndt and assigned to Riley & Maitland. By the 1890s Valley Iron Works was specializing in making steam engines. At that time Riley had about 50 employees. The business survived until at least 1900 but we have no information beyond that time.

Information Sources

• The following material is from History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, published in 1892 and available online at USGenNet:

  WILLIAM P. RILEY, proprietor of the Valley Iron Works, was born in 1828 in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where his father, Patrick Riley, was at that time engaged as a contractor on the Lehigh canal. His parents were natives of Ireland; his father was a member of the Catholic church, and his mother was brought up in the Church of England. In 1830 his father secured a contract on the West Branch division of the Pennsylvania canal commencing a short distance below Williamsport, and extending to Loyalsock creek, at which time his family removed to Lycoming county.

  Upon the completion of this contract Mr. Riley relinquished the business, which he had followed for several years, and purchased a farm in Hepburn township, where the subject of this sketch, a child of two years when his father located in this county and the second in a family of six children, was reared and obtained his education at the local schools. In 1839 the family removed to Williamsport, where William, who was still quite young, was variously employed in summer and attended school in winter.

  In 1845 he engaged with John B. Hall to learn the trade of iron molder, which occupation he followed with but little interruption until after the outbreak of the rebellion. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-second Regiment, and was discharged from the service in August, 1865. Very soon after his return he took measures for the establishment of the business in which he had been educated, resulting in the formation of the firm of Sechler, Riley & Company, composed of Michael Sechler, W. P. Riley, and his brother Daniel. The works were adapted to the manufacture of stoves, plows, and light castings. During the first year the firm was changed to Heathcote, Riley & Company, and subsequently to Riley & Maitland, who continued until 1878. Upon the retirement of Mr. Maitland in that year Mr. Riley assumed sole control, since which time the establishment has been known as the Valley Iron Works.

  The character of the product has also changed, stoves and plows having long since been superseded by machinery of various kinds. The leading specialty is the Valley Automatic Engine, patented and placed on the market in 1886. The favorable reputation of this engine is attested by orders from every State and Territory of the Union, as well as Canada, Mexico, South America, India, and Japan. Mr. Riley was married in 1852 to Mary A., daughter of Harman Yost, of Lewisburg, Union county, and to this union four children have been born: Francis H., who died in 1856; Edward H. and William C., both of whom are employed with their father, and Walter Lee, who was accidentally killed in 1887 at the age of eighteen. Mr. Riley is a member of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held or sought public office. Himself and wife are members Of the Presbyterian church.

• A web search uncovered a few mentions of Valley Iron Works, including its being mentioned as a company that made equipment for the building of the Panama Canal.