S. P. WILEY

S. P. Wiley, who owns five hundred and twenty acres on section 22 High Point township, was born in Jackson county, this state, on the 12^th of June, 1864, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Spicer) Wiley. The father was born in Ireland, but in 1840, when about twenty-three years of age, emigrated to the United States, where he resided for some time. Following the deaths of his parents he returned to Ireland and remained there for ten years, after which he came again to America. He was married in Zanesville, Ohio, and subsequently removed to the vicinity of Dubuque, Iowa, where he lived for fourteen years, after which he came to Decatur county and purchased the old homestead from a man by the name of Beggs. His demise occurred in 1890 when he was seventy-two years of age, and his wife died in 1903 when seventy-four years old. They were the parents of ten children, only three of whom are still living, those besides our subject being Mrs. S. L. Cox, of Allerton; and Wilson, a farmer, living near Allerton.

S. P. Wiley was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. He has devoted his entire active life to agricultural pursuits and now owns part of the old homestead. His holdings total five hundred and twenty acres of excellent land, and his one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of High Point township.

On the 3d of March, 1898, Mr. Wiley married Miss Stella C. Cowden, by whom he had two children: Martha C., who died on the 10^th of December, 1914, at the age of fifteen years; and Maurice W., who was born November 18, 1900. On the 9^th of March, 1908, Mr. Wiley married Miss Susie Batt, of Worth county, Missouri, a daughter of Aaron and Catherine (Nutt) Batt. Her father was a farmer by occupation. She is one of a family of ten children and by her marriage has three children: Horace, who was born April 25, 1909; Mildred, born July 14, 1910; and Emmett, who birth occurred August 20, 1911.

Mr. Wiley is a republican, for six years was a ember of the board of supervisors and has also served as assessor and township trustee. His official record is one that is highly creditable to him and there has never been any doubt either of his ability or of his integrity. He belongs to the Masonic order, holding membership in Clay Lodge, No. 193, A. F. & A. M. All those who know him esteem him highly and he is recognized as a progressive and prosperous agriculturalist.