In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1833
From History of La Salle County, Illinois : (1906), Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois (1900)
SAMUEL C. WILEY.
Samuel C. Wiley, a retired farmer and lumber dealer of Earlville, La- Salle county, Illinois, was born in Somerset county, Maine, November it, 1833, and was a son of Charles and Seraphina (Greenleaf) Wiley. His great-great-grandfather was a native of Scotland, who moved to Ireland, where the great-grandfather was born and when this lad was about twelve years old the family moved to America and settled in Massachusetts. Robert Wiley was the youngest of seven sons, and was born in the state of Maine, where he grew to man's estate and married Hannah Charles, who also was a native of Maine. Her parents came from Sweden.
Charles Wiley was born in Freiburg, Maine, March 15, 1803. He married Miss Seraphina Greenleaf, by whom he had a family of five children, namely: Samuel C; Henry, a farmer on the old home in Freedom township; Mary Ann, who died in early life; Laura, who also died young; and Martha, the wife of David Davis, born in LaSalle county. In 1844 Charles Wiley brought his family direct from the state of Maine to Freedom township, LaSalle county, Illinois, where he and his sons developed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He died in 1875 and was survived by his widow until 1896, who died in her eighty-sixth year. Her parents were English people, who located in Maine in the early days. Charles Wiley was one of
2o6 five brothers who settled in this county, one of whom was Dr. Samuel Wiley, of Mendota. The father also made this his home during his later years and died here. The family were adherents of the Universalist church and were upright, honorable people, highly esteemed.
Samuel C. Wiley was but eleven years of age when his parents moved to this county, which has since been his home. The advantages for obtaining a schooling at that time were very limited, as long distances must be traversed in order to reach a school, which at best was a very primitive affair and the teaching of the crudest sort. As Samuel's life was spent on a farm it was not easy to take advantage of even the opportunity thus offered, so his education was obtained chiefly from observation and reading. He remained at home until his marriage, but in the meantime had purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Meriden township, which he had developed and placed in a high state of cultivation. He has been one of the most prosperous farmers in Illinois and added to his original farm until to-day he has five hundred acres of as fertile land as can be found in the state. About 1874 he entered into partnership with E. Hapeman and opened a lumber-yard, which he conducted eleven years, when he sold out to his partner. For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in buying and shipping live stock and has made it a profitable business.
He was united in marriage, in 1858, to Miss Mary E. Thompson, a native of New York and a daughter of Harvey I. Thompson, who came from that state to Christian county, Illinois, when Mrs. Wiley was a child and later located in this county. Their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, seven of whom are still living; Laura died when about two years old, and the seven living are Carrie, J\label, Herbert C, Gilbert, Ruth, Rosa and George S. Mrs. Wiley was spared to her family until her fifty-third year was passed, in 1893, when she was called to enter the life everlasting. Mr. Wiley is a Knight Templar Mason and an adherent of the Democratic party. He has held a number of minor offices, acting as the supervisor of Earl and Meriden townships for seven or eight years, and in 1882 was elected to the house of representatives from this district, and was re-elected two years later.
As printed in Biographical and genealogical record of LaSalle County, Illinois (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
SAMUEL C. WILEY.
Samuel C. Wiley was born in Somerset county, Maine, November 11, 1833, his parents being Charles and Seraphina (Greenleaf) Wiley. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Scotland. The great-great-grandfather of Samuel C. Wiley removed to Ireland, where the great-grandfather was born, and when this lad was about twelve years of age the family home was established in Massachusetts. Robert Wiley was the youngest seven sons and was born in Maine, where he was reared and married Hannah Charles, also a native of that state. Her parents came from Sweden. Charles Wiley, son of Robert Wiley, was born in Fryeburg, Maine, March 15, 1803, and wedded Seraphina Greenleaf, by whom he had five children. In 1844 he brought his family from Maine to LaSalle county, Illinois, settling in Freedom township, where he secured a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, which he developed with the aid of his sons. Thus at an early date the family was established in this section of the state and the family name has since been interwoven with the history of development and progress here. Charles Wiley died in 1875, and his wife passed away in 1896, in her eighty-sixth year. Her parents were English people who located in Maine in the early days.
Samuel C. Wiley was a youth of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois. His educational privileges were limited owing to the condition of the schools at that time, but reading and observe tion have added largely to his knowledge, and in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. His first purchase of land made him owner of two hundred and forty acres in Meriden township, which he developed, trans forming it into a productive farm. For many years he was classed among the most successful agriculturists of this part of the state and added to his original holdings from time to time until he became the owner of five hundred acres of val able land. Retiring from the active work of the farm, he engaged in the lumber business about 1874 in partnership with W. E. Hapeman. This relation was maintained for eleven years, when he sold out to his partner and for about twenty years he was engaged in buying and shipping live stock in Earlville, where he conducted a good business. In 1858 he wedded Mary E. Thompson, a native of New York and a daughter of Harvey I. Thompson, who removed from the Empire state to Christian county, Illinois, and afterward came to LaSalle county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wiley were born eight children: Laura, who died at the age of two years; Carrie; Mabel; Herbert C.; Gilbert; Ruth; Rosa, and George S. The death of Mrs. Wiley occurred in 1892, when she was in her fifty-second year, and Mr. Wiley continued to make his home in Earlville. He was a Knight Templar Mason, and politically a democrat. He served as supervisor of Earl and Meriden townships for a number of years, and twice represented his district in the state legislature. His influence in community affairs was far-reaching and beneficial, and he was regarded as one of the leading business men of the northern part of the county. His death occurred February 13, 1900.
As printed in History of LaSalle County, Illinois : (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Charles Wiley (b. 1861) Samuel Wiley
Their biographies name Samuel C. Wiley: George S. Wiley (b. 1879) Herbert C. Wiley (b. 1869)
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.