Benjamin D. Wiley was born 4/25/1869, died 10/13/1947. His wife Anna Rosa Dobbs Wiley was born 2/29/1871, died 2/14/1934. They moved with their seven children (my mother was the youngest) from Parker County, Texas to Hall County sometime before 1920. The following year they moved on to Dickens County. They also brought his mother, Fannie Dossen Tummins, a widow (born 1840, died 1919). She is buried in Dickens Cemetary. I was told that she was first married to a Wiley who died soon after Benjamin D. was born, then married a Frenchman named Tummins. I would love to find more information on Benjamin's father and also on any half brothers and sisters he may have had named Tummins. The "D" in Benjamin's name may be Delano or Dulaney. I've seen references to both.
I believe that Anna Rosa Dobbs Wiley was the daughter of George Lee Dobbs, who has a bio in the Parker County Rootsweb site. It is lengthy and I recall he fathered about 20 children with two wives, but she is not mentioned specifically. Several of the Dobbs children migrated to Dickens county about the same time. My mother told of several Dobbs cousins in the Dickens area. Anna and Emma Dobbs were very close. Emma married a Noland and their family has history in the Dickens County book. Many are buried in the Dickens Cemetary.
Anna & Benjamin D. Wiley had seven children; my mother Helen Francis was the youngest. The others as follows:
- George B. (Goon) Wiley, served in France in World War I, taught school at Midway, Red Mud and Magic City before moving to California
- Dossie Wiley Williams, married George Williams, moved to California in 1930's
- Mattie Emma (Tommie Jean) Wiley Kennedy, married Curtis Vernon, divorced, married Thomas Jeff Kennedy
- Robert Madison (Toad) Wiley, married Gladys Imel, moved to Hall County in 1946
- Ruth Wiley House, married Edd House, lived in Turkey
- Jane Viola Wiley Williams, married Joe Williams, moved to California in 1930's.
- Helen Francis
Tommie Jean Kennedy, Robert Madison Wiley, wife Gladys and an infant child are also buried in Dickens Cemetery. All of these siblings lived for some time in Dickens County but three moved on west.
Fannie Dossen Tummins apparently lived with Anna & Benjamin D. as a widow and moved with them to west Texas in 1918, died in 1919, and was buried in Dickens Cemetery. I have no info on her place of birth, parents or even her maiden name (unless perhaps it is Dossen).
Written and submitted by Gerald Farley
None submitted to date
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