My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM J. WILEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Piqua; was born in Spring Creek Township, Miami Co., Ohio, April 21, 1829. William J. is a great-grandson of Samuel Wiley, who was born in Maryland in 1749; there he grew to manhood, and in 1776, seeing the need of having an independent country, went forth to battle for the same, passing through all the hardships connected therewith. After the most severe part was over, he returned home and married and with his wife, soon after emigrated to Pennsylvania; there they had born to them three sons. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley remained in Pennsylvania until 1812, when they came to Ohio in 1813, locating on Sec. 25, Spring Creek Township, Miami Co., where they departed this life at an advanced age. William J. Wiley is a grandson of William and Jane (Johnson) Wiley; he was born in Pennsylvania, March 16, 1779, and she in Ireland, March 16, 1780; their marriage was celebrated about 1800. Twelve years later, they emigrated West, and in 1813 located on the above-named section, taking refuge in a rude log cabin that had neither doors nor floor, and passing through many hardships connected with the early settlers of Miami Co. William Wiley, while a resident of this county, held some of the most important offices of the county and township of Spring Creek; he was one of the patriots of the war of 1812, passing through and seeing many frightful scenes, no doubt. He and wife passed from the stage of life in 1869, in Spring Creek Township. Samuel J. Wiley, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 28, 1803, and at the age of 9 years, he, with his parents, came West and spent his earlier life at home in assisting to open out a farm from the unbroken wilderness. In 1828, he married Margaret McKnight, who was born in Ireland in 1795. Their children were six in number, of whom William is the oldest. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and received a fair education; he has always been willing to assist in all public interests of welfare in his community; he has, during his life, held the more important offices of the township, which were filled with impartial feelings to all with whom he transacted business. William J. has his farm of 144 acres in Sec. 25, Spring Creek Township, under good cultivation, and is finely situated one mile northeast of Piqua. He, in 1859, married Elsie J. Burns, who died in January, 1862, leaving husband and one son. William J. married, for his second wife, Penelope McKee, who was born in Miami Co., Oct. 19, 1834. Three children have been born to them, viz., Harry S., Mary L. and Nellie M.