WILEY, Allen D. 1840-1934

WILEY, CONRAD, BARTLES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/21/2010 at 09:00:25

A. D. Wiley, Last Conrad Civil War Veteran, Is Dead

A. D. Wiley, Conrad's last Civil War veteran, died shortly before 7 o'clock Tuesday morning after a lingering illness from complications brought on by his advanced age. The end had been expected at any time for a week.

Mr. Wiley was one of Conrad's pioneers, having lived there and seen the transformation of that community from a wilderness to the present day.

Allen D. Wiley was born Dec. 29, 1840, in a small town near Cincinnati, Ohio. Had he lived until the coming December he would have been 94 years old. When he was a lad about 10 years old he came west with his parents and located near the site that Conrad now occupies. There he engaged in farming and breaking of the virgin soil as soon as he was old enough.

He was united in marriage to Mariar Conrad, of the elder Will Conrad family, also a family among the earlier pioneers. She passed away in January, 1925. To this union were born nine children, all living except Gertrude DeVries of Des Moines, who passed away three years ago. The remainder of the six girls and three boys are: Julia Harrison, Glendale, Okla.; Jessie Schultz, Cleveland, Ohio; Jennie Given, Des Moines; Ruth Schubert, Chicago;

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 November 1934

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Noted War Veteran Is Dead at Conrad

Allen D. Wiley, Conrad’s last Civil war veteran and next to the last in Grundy county, died at his home in Conrad, Tuesday, November 6, 1934, at the age of 93 years, 10 months and 8 days. Death was due to old age and complications. Mr. Wiley was a patient sufferer in his last illness and was ever thoughtful of those about him.

He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1840 and was one of the early settlers of Grundy county. He came here in 1856 with his parents, and resided here the remainder of his life with the exception of the two years he served in the union army.

He received his education in the old Albion Seminary and was one of the few remaining persons who had attended that institution. Mr. Wiley was Conrad’s pioneer school teacher and also taught school in south Hardin county and the Bethel neighborhood. At the time the local school building was dedicated in 1925, Mr. Wiley was honored as the teacher of the first school in Conrad. At the dedication ceremonies he laid in the cornerstone of the building in the presence of the governor of Iowa.

For a number of years, he serviced the town as mayor and later as justice of the peace. He was always interested in worthwhile movements in the community. Mr. Wiley united with the Presbyterian church in Conrad in 1891 and had always been a faithful member of that church. Fraternally he was a member of the G.A.R. and of the Roman Lodge No. 564 A.F. & A.M.

He was united in marriage October 14, 1866, to Mariah Frances Conrad who passed away January 6, 1925. To this union were born nine children: Mrs. Gertrude DeVries, who died in 1931, and Verner, of Marshalltown; Mrs. Nora Ralston of Conrad; Howard, Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Ruth Shubert, of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Jessie Schultz, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Jennie Given, Des Moines, Iowa; John, Mason City and Mrs. Julia Harrison, Phoenix, Arizona, all of whom survive him. He was married Sept. 6, 1927, to Miss Minerva Bartles who also survives.

Although Mr. Wiley served two years and one month in the union armies in the civil war, he never saw a battle or heard a shot fired. At the age of 22, he enlisted in the 88th Ohio Infantry, expecting to see actual fighting service but his regiment was assigned to Cincinnati, Ohio, where some 25,000 confederate prisoners were held and Wiley became an assistant to the judge-advocate of the post.

Later he was transferred to the major general’s office where he became an attaché of General Joe Hooker. At one time his regiment was ordered to the front, all was packed and the trains were waiting when at the last minute the order was countermanded.

Funeral services were held at the Conrad Presbyterian church at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, in charge of the Rev. Wayne Hoxsie, pastor of the church. The body lay in state at the church from 11:30 until 2:30 and the business houses were closed during the hour of the funeral. The Masonic lodge attended the services in a body and the Legion firing squad were in charge of the services at the grave.

Pall bearers were Dean, Gordon and Robert Rolston, Donald Bartine and Paul and Leland Wiley. Flower girls were Ruth Given, Hulda Bartine, Betty Rolston and Helen Coultes. A quartet composed of Mrs. G. R. Gould, Mrs. Frank Dostal, J. F. Wheeler and Wayne Bauerle sang at the services at the church, accompanied at the piano by Mr. E. P. Smith. Burial was in the Conrad cemetery.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping