Biographies
DAVID E. WILEY
Genealogical
records show that several generations of the Wiley family lived and labored in
Maryland, their principal place of residence having been Hartford county, whence their descendants scattered into many
portions of the United States. The ancestral mansion stood at Norrisville, a small town lying near to the state line of
Pennsylvania, near also to the placid waters of the Susquehanna river and not far distant from the Chesapeake bay. There
occurred the birth of David E. Wiley June 20, 1858, and there in 1825 the eyes
of his father, Hon. David Wiley, first opened to the light. The latter had been
the recipient of fair advantages in the select schools common to the early half
of the nineteenth century and, although he limited his attention to farming and
stock-raising, he not only attained prominence in that occupation, but also
became a leader in civic affairs, in business enterprises and in progressive
projects for the welfare of his commonwealth. In recognition of his noteworthy
achievements and genuine talents for the public service he was chosen as a
member of the Maryland assembly in 1881 and 1883 and at the time of his death,
February 27, 1887, he was still very prominent in the state. As a farmer he was
progressive. In the stock business he aimed to raise only the best grades. No
finer herd than his might be found in all of Hartford county.
To him belonged the distinction of sending the first carload of cattle ever
shipped to England, while he constantly bought and sold in the markets of the
eastern cities. During early manhood he married Mary S. Terril,
who was born at Norrisville, Md., and died there in
June of 1865, while still in the prime of womanhood.
The
schools of Norrisville were excellent in their
standard of training and in their discipline. Hence David E. Wiley had
advantages superior to those possible to many of that period. When he left
school at the age of eighteen he secured employment in a mercantile
establishment in his home town and there he remained for twelve years.
Meanwhile from 1882 to 1884 he served as justice of the peace in his home
township. Coming to California in 1888 he entered the mint and remained an employe of the government until 1904, when he resigned to
devote his whole attention to a store at Folsom, which he had bought in 1903.
After having engaged in merchandising for seven years he sold out in 1910.
Since then he has acted as agent for several old-line insurance companies and
also has carried on a cigar business. While still a resident of Maryland he was
united in marriage, September 24, 1884, with Miss Edith May, a member of an old
Maryland family and a woman of culture and education. In addition to his
family residence Mr. Wiley owns another dwelling-house in Folsom. Throughout
all of his life he has favored Democratic principles and at all elections he
supports the regular party nominees. In fraternal relations he holds membership
with the blue lodge of Masons, the Knights of Pythias,
the Eagles, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Rebekahs,
to which last-named his wife also belongs.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 916-917. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.