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 AMES WILEY is pursuing the even tenor of his way as a prosperous and intelligent farmer of Morgan Township, where he located in the spring of 1865. He is the proprietor of 295 acres of valuable land, with a fine residence, a good barn and other out-buildings, and deals largely in graded stock, including Short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses. The residence is a frame structure, which was built in 1870, and the main barn was put up in 1887. Everything about the premises is kept in good order, and displays on all sides the thrift and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. Wiley first drew breath in Bracken County, Ky., July 24, 1825, and is the son of John A. and Ruth (Wells) Wiley, also natives of the Blue Grass State. John Wiley was born in Bracken County in~U799, and was the son of Eli and Elizabeth (Coles) Wiley, who reared a large family of children, of whom John was the eldest. The others were named respectively, James, Reason, Adam, Dow, Darius, Asa, Hannah, Mary, Dorcas, Susan, Nancy and Lettie. Nancy is the wife of Michael Whalen, of Charleston, and Lettie, the widow of James Sublet, of the same place. It is supposed that these are the only ones living. John Wiley grew to manhood in his native State, and was there married. Four or five years later in about 1830, he came with his family to Illinois, remaining one summer in Edgar County. He then purchased a tract of land in Ashmore Township, this county, which he occupied until the spring of 1851, then sold out and purchased a farm in what is now Douglas County, upon which he spent the remainder of his days, his death taking place in April, 1874. He was considered a good man in every sense of the word, and for many years was prominently connected with the Christian Church. The children of the parental family, six in number, were, James, of our sketch; Louis, now deceased; Sallie, the wife of James Arterbeon, a farmer of Edgar County; Aden, a resident of Chester, Ill.; Elizabeth and Amos, who died in childhood. The wife and mother passed away in December, 1846. John Wiley was then married to Mrs. Lucy (Williams) Rout, and of this union there were also born six children, who are recorded as follows: Ruberta, Mrs. Haines, became the mother of two children, and died in 1886; Hester Ann is the widow of]George Richmond, who died in 1877, and left four children, of whom Townsend and Mary Frances (twins) are the only ones surviving, and with their mother, are residents of Douglas County; Eli, a blacksmith by trade, and William, are at home. The subject of our sketch was but five years of age when his parents came to this county. He was bred to farm life and completed his education in the district schools of Ashmore Township, and after reaching manhood was married, in March, 1866, to Miss Sarah Brown, who was born in this county, and is the daughter of J. W. and Martha Brown, natives of Kentucky, who became the parents of eight sons and three daughters. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are recorded as follows: John W., born Nov. 19, 1867, died July 2, 1869; Millie Susan, born Oct. 27, 1869; Minnie, Jan. 26, 1874, and Grace A., Oct. 22, 1882, remain with their parents. Mr. Wiley is one of the most reliable members of the Republican party, although meddling little with politics, and uniformly casts his vote with it upon occasions of important elections. He has been the encourager of those enterprises calculated for the best good of his community and is properly classed among the worthy and valued citizens of Morgan Township, who have aided in developing its resources and bringing it to a good position among the surrounding communities. |
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