CHAPTER XXVII (Part 63)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Abraham Wiley - The late Abraham Wiley, born March 20, 1820, was one of the true pioneers of this section. He was one of the men who laid the foundations of the social, religious, political and industrial life of Henry County. He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, a son of William and Margaret (Whitson) Wiley. They were the parents of six boys and three girls, all born in Tennessee ere the family left their home in the crude ox-wagon for their slow and perilous journey to Lafayette County, Missouri. This was in 1830, and they remained in that county until 1833, when they came to Henry County to homestead 160 acres in Tebo township. The first night of their arrival upon Tebo Creek, an unusual display of shooting star illuminated the sky and it was a source of delight and a means of remembering their first night near their future home.
In 1854, Abraham Wiley homesteaded 240 acres in Deer Creek township and for the following thirty-four years he made it his home, changing it from a wild timber land, where the deer and buffalo were in their native haunts, to the cultivated fields of waving grain. Mr. Wiley was a carpenter, a trade learned in his youth, and helped in the building of the Baptist Church in Clinton, Missouri, besides various other edifices. He was a leader in the organization of East District school and the South Methodist Church, not alone lending his financial aid but his strong arm as well, in its reconstruction. His moral and religious life was an asset to the community in which he lived and labored.
January 25, 1857, Abraham Wiley married Angeline Woolfolk, who was born April 25, 1833, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the daughter of Charles Thomas and Polly Ann (Payne) Woolfolk, natives of Kentucky.
They emigrated to Boone County, Missouri, in 1840, and in 1856, they came to Henry County, where they homesteaded in Deer Creek township, where Mrs. Wiley has made her home since her husband's demise.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Wiley, as follows: Mrs. Nannie McElwrath, deceased wife of Alonzo McElwrath; Maggie, who was postmistress of the Lewis Station from 1902 to 1907, is now living with her mother; Robert G. lives two miles northeast of Clinton; Charles L., a sketch of whom is in this volume. Mrs. Nannie McElwrath left four children: Mrs. Mora Lillian Nesbitt, Deer Creek township; Charles L., merchant at Lewis Station; Helen N. and Hallie.
Mrs. Wiley's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Woolfolk, were slave holders in Kentucky and brought their slaves with them to Missouri. They were in the family until their release after the Civil War. Abraham Wiley, in his capacity of carpenter, helped in the building of the first homes in Clinton, Missouri, and was influential in many of its affairs. He passed away in 1901 in Lewis Station, Missouri, where he had made his home since 1899.
Robert Lee Jones is a successful farmer and an extensive mule dealer of Tebo township, who owns and operates a farm in section 36. Mr. Jones is a young man who gives promise of being one of the leading agriculturists of his community. He was born June 26, 1885, in Tebo township, Henry County, the son of Reuben A. and Fannie (Parks) Jones, who are also farming in Tebo township.
Robert Lee Jones was reared on the home farm and attended the Highland district school and the Calhoun High School. In 1909, he purchased his present farm of sixty-five acres and is conducting a successful farming business. He also is dealing in mules, buying and selling them the year around.
February 17, 1909, Robert L. Jones and Maude Dannatt were united in marriage. She was born in Clinton County, Iowa, and is the daughter of Samuel and Amelia (Rice) Dannatt. Mr. and Mrs. Dannatt, with their family, came to Deer Creek township, Henry County, in 1904 and purchased 120 acres of land, which they farmed until their retirement in 1909, when they moved to Clinton, Missouri. In 1913, they moved to Calhoun, Missouri, where they now reside.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of four children as follows: Ethlyn Bonita, Floyd Kenneth, Ada Caroline, and Elsie Wonita. The family are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Jones votes the Democratic ticket. He is one of the substantial and progressive young men of Henry County.
Charles L. Wiley, a progressive farmer and stockman of Deer Creek township, is a descendant of the earliest pioneers of Henry County.
Charles Wiley was born August 25, 1871, in Deer Creek township on the old homestead of his parents, Abraham and Angeline (Woolfolk) Wiley. A history of this family appears in this volume.
Charles Wiley received his education in the district schools and very early in life began for himself, by hard work as a farmer. He married Sallie Elizabeth Showalter October 3, 1895. She is the daughter of Jacob and Sarah Belle (Beaty) Showalter, the former born in Ohio January 8, 1840, and "the latter was born in Henry County, Missouri, in 1838. Jacob Showalter served as a soldier in the 128th Indiana Infantry Regiment of Volunteers, fought in many battles and was wounded at Chattanooga. He came to Henry County not long after the Civil War closed. He died January 8, 1908, and his wife departed this life August 2, 1910. They reared their family in Deer Creek township upon the farm of 382 acres, where their daughter, Mrs. Wiley, now lives. Mrs. Wiley was born on this farm February 6, 1873, and received her education in the rural schools. She has one sister, Mrs. Lillie Diehl. Three children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley. They are: Cecil, now a private in Rahe's Army School, Kansas City, Missouri; Mary and Walter.
Mr and Mrs. Wiley are the owners of 981 acres of land in Deer Creek and Tebo townships. They are farming 500 acres, and renting the rest to tenants. Mr. Wiley is president of the Bank of Calhoun and school director of district No. 41. He realizes the opportunities of feeding large herds of cattle in his vast acreage, and he does this from year to year, often shipping five and six carloads of beef cattle per year.
Mr. Wiley is a Democrat and a public spirited citizen. In the Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives, he spent many days of his valuable time looking after Uncle Sam's business, as well as his own.
Charles Newman - For the past fifty years Charles Newman has made his home at his present residence in Deer Creek township. He was born July 1, 1860, in Vernon County, Missouri, the son of Jonathan and Martha J. (Prior) Newman. They were born in Cooper County, Missouri, and Tennessee, respectively. In 1866, they left their home in Vernon County, Missouri, and lived on land in Johnson County for two years; then they came to Henry County and rented the farm which was originally owned by Abraham Wiley for two years, after which they settled on the "Newman Homestead" in Deer Creek township, and followed their farming activities. Jonathan Newman was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Confederate Army. He passed away December 6, 1892, and his wife survived him until 1912.
Charles Newman attended the district school and has always remained on the home farm, looking after its interests and the numberless tasks of conducting it successfully. August 19, 1891, Mr. Newman was married to Columbia J. Goff, the daughter of Lewis I. and Sarah (Wiley) Goff, who were born in Henrj' County, descendants of pioneer settlers. Mrs. Columbia Newman was born in Tebo township, August 18, 1862, and received her education in the district schools. Twins, Lewis and Mary, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newman. Mary died in infancy and Lewis, born April 21, 1893, became a private in the National Army February 26, 1918, and is now serving in the 354th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division of the United States Army, now "Somewhere in France." Lewis is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. and Mrs. Newman own 241 acres of land. He is not seeking political honors, but exercises his right of franchise by voting the Democratic ticket. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, South.
