My Genealogy Hound

G. J. Wiley, citizen and retired merchant of Franklin County, Mo., was born in Jefferson County, Mo., September 27, 1840, and is the son of Eli and Lucina (Marsh) Wiley, natives of Tennessee and Illinois, respectively. His father was born in 1796, came to Jefferson County, in 1819, and here passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1882. He was a farmer, was judge of the county court for many years, and was also magistrate. The mother is now a resident of Jefferson County, Mo., and is living on the old homestead at the advanced age of eighty-three. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and of their family of thirteen children, seven are now living. Our subject received his education in the schools of St. Louis County, and at the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South left home and joined Company G, of the Third Missouri Cavalry, Confederate service, as sergeant, but was afterward promoted to first lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Hartville, Springfield and the raid from Balesville (Ark.) to Cape Girardeau (Mo.), Helena (Ark.), Little Rock, Camden (Ark.), Saline (Ark.), and was in Price’s raid through Missouri, in 1864. He served altogether three years and four months, and was slightly wounded twice. After the war he returned and engaged in merchandising on the old homestead. In 1867 he went to Robertsville, and again engaged in merchandising, but at the end of one year moved to Moselle, where he was for five years engaged in the same business. October 28, 1868, he married Miss Martha E. Beeler, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Jesse F. Beeler. To this union was born one child, Ida Belle, who is now living at home with her parents. After coming to Moselle Mr. Wiley was part of the time a partner of C. E. Frost. They carried a stock of goods worth $7,000 to $8,000, had one store at Robertsville, which C. E. Frost operated, and another at Moselle, of which Mr. Wiley was manager. They sold from $15,000 to $20,000 worth of goods per year. In 1872 Mr. Wiley formed a partnership with James McLord, and engaged in milling for three years. Since then he has been engaged in farming and buying wheat in Moselle. He was notary public from 1868 to 1878, and since October, 1885, has been postmaster at Moselle. He is a Democrat, is a member of Fraternal Lodge, No. 363, A. F. & A. M., and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.