USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 64
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WILES, Albert Marion, one of the reliable practitioners of osteop- . athy of Jersey County, is located at Jerseyville where he has built up a large and valuable practice. He was born at Kirksville, Mo., Sep- tember 5, 1879, a son of Jacob and Sarah M. (Parsell) Wiles, born in Adair County, Mo., farming people who now reside at Ponca City, Okla.
Albert Marion Wiles attended the grammar and high schools of Kirksville. following which he took a course in the Missouri State Normal school, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. He then took up the study of his profession at Kirksville, and was graduated when twenty years old. Coming to Jerseyville, he entered upon an active practice, in which he has since continued.
On December 3. 1903, he was married to Cora M. Whitehcad. born at Jerseyville, a daughter of Robert and Flora (Pritchett) White- head of Jerseyville. Dr. and Mrs. Wiles have three children, namely : Gordon, Margaret and Virginia. He is a Presbyterian and served as 42
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secretary of the board of trustees of the church at Jerseyville for sev- eral years. In politics a Democrat, he was on the Jersey Township High School board for the first two years of its existence, and did much to bring about a satisfactory adjustment of affairs. In Masonry, he belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter.
WILEY, John, now deceased, but formerly one of the most pros- perous men of Jerseyville and the owner of considerable property, was born at Quebec, Canada, April 6, 1837, a son of Samuel and Susan (McCarthy) Wiley, natives of Canada who moved to New York state where the father died. In the early fifties John Wiley came to Jer- seyville and was employed in a meat market, and worked at what- ever honest employment he could secure until he had saved sufficient money to buy a general store, in 1861. From then on he prospered, investing his profits in Jerseyville property, and in time he erected a handsome brick business block, and a number of residences. As soon as he was able to do so, he sent for his widowed mother and took care of her the remainder of her life.
On February 14, 1878, Mr. Wiley was married to Caroline H. Hayes, born December 25, 1852, at Ithaca, N. Y., a daughter of James and Mary Hayes, born in New York. Mrs. Wiley was reared by an aunt who lived at Jerseyville, whom she joined soon after the close of the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley had no children. Mr. Wiley was a Republican and served Jerseyville one term as a member of the city council. He was a charter member of the Jerseyville lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His death occurred December 23, 1907, since which time Mrs. Wiley has lived in her beautiful home on North Lafayette Street. She belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps, the South Side Day Nursery, of South St. Louis, Mo., in which she is serving as a member of the finance committee, and she also belongs to the Jersey County Historical Society. She is an Episcopalian. A lady of culture, she employs her ample means in forwarding those measures which she believes will be of the greatest benefit to her locality, and is admittedly one of the most efficient charitable workers in her church.
WILLMAN, Jacob F., a prosperous farmer, residing three miles west of Grafton, is one of the representative men of Jersey County. He was born in New York City, N. Y., August 14, 1870, a son of Jacob and Margueritte (Bluch) Willman. Jacob Willman was born in Bavaria, Germany, and after serving in the German army, he came to the United States in 1869, and spent some time in New York City where he worked at his trades of carpentering and painting, but later on in life he was engaged in farming. He and his wife had, in addition to Jacob F. Willman, the following children : Mrs. Chase, whose husband is an express messenger; Mrs. Elizabeth Rubel; Mrs. Dora Hamilton, who resides in New Mexico, and two who are de- ceased. When Jacob F. Willman was eight years old, his parents
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came to Grafton, and here the father died in 1916, the mother having passed away in 1900. They were Catholics. While the father in- clined towards the principles of the Republican party, lie oftentimes voted for the man rather than for the party.
Jacob F. Willman attended the Grafton schools until he was six- teen years old, and then he began farming. He has a fine property of sixty acres, and is specializing in raising fruit, Duroc-Jersey hogs, Plymouth Rock chickens and Indian Runner ducks, and during 1917 sold over $500 worth of fruit. His poultry is famous in the neighborhood, and he does a big business in supplying fine fowls and settings of eggs. His experience in this line enables him to ren- der a very valuable service to his customers, and his territory is a wide one.
Mr. Willman was married December 29, 1897, to Miss Catherine Pivoda, born in Jersey County, October 9, 1879, although her parents were natives of Austria. Mr. and Mrs. Willman have had the follow- ing children born to them : Jacob C., who is at home; Stephen E., who is deceased; Agnes; and Leonard F. In politics Mr. Willman is a Democrat, and has held school offices for years, being now clerk of school district No. 59. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and Mrs. Willman belongs to the Royal Neighbors. They are Catholics. Few people of this section are held in higher esteem than Mr. and Mrs. Willman, and they deserve the confidence they enjoy.
WILSON, Henry A., a skilled carpenter and general mechanic of Grafton, is one of the substantial men of this city. He was born in Missouri, April 18, 1857, a son of Robert and Caroline (Bridger) Wilson. The father was born in Lancashire, England, in 1824, and the mother was also a native of England. He was twenty-five years old when they were married, the ceremony being performed in Eng- land by a clergyman of the established church. Their children were as follows: Robert, who resides at Mitts, Mo .; James K., who resides at Fort Worth, Tex .; Henry A .; Ambrose, who lives at St. Louis, Mo .; Frederick, who lives at Washington, Mo .; Luella, who is de- ceased ; Lizzie and Dora, who live in Missouri. A machinist, the father met with an accident while working at his trade, a piece of steel strik- ing him in the eye and eventually he lost the sight of that organ. In 1855 he came to the United States, first stopping at Chicago, and later going to New Haven, Mo., where he followed farming.
Henry A. Wilson attended the schools of New Haven, Mo., until he was nineteen years old, then learned the machinist trade, and then worked as a carpenter at St. Louis, Mo. Finally he entered the gov- ernment service and was employed in Louisiana, being sent to Grafton in 1880, as a member of the government engineering corps. Ile was then made a pilot in the service of the government on the Mississippi River until he lost his boat in a storm, and barely, escaped with his life. He then located at Grafton and is engaged in working as a carpenter and general mechanic, having received his papers from the government as a machinist twenty-seven years ago.
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Mr. Wilson was married to Ellen Barker, in 1880, and he and his bride went to Columbus, Ky., for their honeymoon on the government boat "Cecil," of which he was pilot. They became the parents of the following children: Walter D., and Mrs. Ada Cope, both of whom live at Grafton; Harry Arthur, who lives at Granite City, Ill. ; Mrs. Birdie Wallace, who lives at Grafton ; and Lola, who lives at home. Mr. Wilson belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. While he is a Democrat in national matters, locally he votes for the man he deems best fitted for the office. In 1886 he was elected constable of Grafton, and in 1916 was elected a justice of the peace, and he has also been an alderman for a number of years. A man of sterling character, Mr. Wilson stands very well in his community.
WOLF, George H., now living retired at Jerseyville, has been con- nected with some important interests in Jersey County. He was born at Booneville N. Y., January 25, 1835, a son of IIenry and Mary (Jil- son) Wolf, the former of whom was born in Strassburg, Germany, in August, 1808, and the latter August 11, 1802, at Booneville N. Y.
On February 21, 1866, George H. Wolf was married to Sarah Ames, born at Steuben, Oneida County, N. Y., a daughter of David H. and Betsy (Norton) Ames, he born at Watervliet, N. Y., May 1, 1792, and she at Herkimer, N. Y., October 7, 1800. The grandparents were Nathaniel and Sarah (Hall) Ames, he born at Killingly, Conn., April 25, 1761, and she in 1768. Hle enlisted in 1779 in the Continen- tal Army. David Ames was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in 1883 he and his family came to join Mr. and Mrs. Wolf at Jersey- ville, where David Ames died November 27, 1893, Mrs. Ames having passed away July 16, 1887, and they were buried at Steuben, N. Y.
After marriage Mr. Wolf settled at Booneville and lived there until the fall of 1869 when he came to Jerseyville, Ill., his wife join- ing him the following spring. He conducted a hardware business at Jerseyville for about four years, and then branched out into handling agricultural implements, so continuing until 1890 when he closed his business and embarked in a dairy business, having a farm of forty- five acres at the edge of town, although he maintained his residence in Jerseyville. In 1904 he sold his dairy interests at public sale, and since then has lived in retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have no chil- dren, but have an adopted daughter, Frances Sarah, who is now Mrs. Benjamin Tweedy. While Mr. Wolf's educational advantages were confined to those offered by the common schools of New York, Mrs. Wolf went to the Whitestown Academy, N. Y., and later taught school for four terms prior to her marriage. Both are very active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which Mr. Wolf has served as steward. In politics he is a Republican.
WOODRUFF, George H., one of the expert market gardeners of Jersey County, owns and operates thirty acres of very valuable land in the eastern part of Jerseyville. He was born near Bardstown, Ky.,
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August 23, 1835, a son of Ezra and Catherine (Hagen) Woodruff. The family history is as follows : John Woodruff, born in England in 1604, died at South Hampton, L. I., in 1670, having left England in 1640, and located at Lynn, Mass. The first name of his wife was Anna. The son of these American founders of the family, also John, was born in England in 1637, and he died in 1691, having been one of the founders of Elizabeth, N. J. He held several offices under the colonial gov- ernment, and was a prominent man. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Ogden. The third in descent, John (III), was born at Elizabeth, N. J., in 1662. His son, Timothy, was born in 1682, and he died Novem- ber 15, 1766. Timothy (II), was born in 1715 and died in 1798, and his son, Enos, was born in 1750 and died in 1821. Ezra the next in line, was born in 1787 and died in 1842, he being the father of George H. Woodruff, whose name heads this review.
Until he was thirteen years old, George H. Woodruff attended school at Louisville, Ky. In 1848 he came to Jerseyville, Ill., buying twenty acres of his present place, to which he later added ten acres. Here he has always carried on market gardening. All of the buildings on the place have been erected by him, and he has also made other improvements.
On January 2, 1861, Mr. Woodruff was married to Elizabeth A. Squirer, born at Newark, N. J., a daughter of Israel and Martha (Kirkpatrick) Squirer, natives of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff became the parents of the following children : Almira, who is deceased ; Ezra, who lives in Jersey County ; Charles, who lives at Cairo, Ill .; Catherine, who is deceased; George, who lives in Jersey County ; and Martha, who is at home. Mrs. Woodruff died July 25, 1892. Mr. Woodruff is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Re- publican, while fraternally he belongs to the subordinate lodge and Encampment of the Odd Fellows and to the Rebekahs. He is a sound reliable man and stands well in his community.
WOOLSEY, George H., a veteran of the Civil War, and a mnan widely known and universally respected, is one of the substantial citizens of Jersey Township. He was born in Jersey Township, Jersey County, Ill., October 27. 1841, a son of Joseph B. and Ann (Barber) Woolsey, natives of New York state, who came to Jersey County at an early day, and entered government land in Jersey Township, the greater portion of which was in the timber. This land Joseph B. Woolsey cleared off and improved, becoming a farmer on an extensive scale, and he also worked at the carpenter trade for a number of years. His children were as follows: Edward, who is deceased; Joel P., who lives at Coffeyville, Kas .; James, who is deceased; Simeon, who lives at Auburn, Ill .; Amos, who lives in Oklahoma : and George H.
George H. Woolsey attended the district schools and learned to be a farmer. When his country had need of him, during the Civil War, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-second
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Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years. He was wounded by a canister shot, in the left breast, which broke two ribs, the wounding taking place during the battle of Coffeyville, Tenn. After being in the hospital for some time, he was granted a furlough of thirty days, but it was four months before he was able to rejoin his regiment.
On October 31, 1867, Mr. Woolsey was married to Barbara Ann Whorton, born in Jersey County, Ill., February 15, 1848, a daughter of Charles and Mary Ann (Bolter) Whorton. Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey became the parents of the following children; Della M., who is deceased; William H., who is also deceased; Joel, who lives at Carrollton, Ill., was married first to Viola Highfield and has a son, Kenneth, and was married (second) to Lizzie Dugger, and they have had two children, Venette and Vienna, the former deceased; George, who lives at Steele, N. D., was married to Kate Graves, and their children are, Everett, Earl, Edith, Blanche and Fay; Nellie, who is Mrs. Charles Bell, of Jerseyville, has the following children, Russell, Maurice, Clifford, Geraldine, Zelda and Florence; Fred, who lives at Jerseyville, was married first to Ella Linker, now deceased, who bore him four children, Earl, Mildred, Wayne and Charles, and after her death was married (second) to Mollie Waters, who is still living; Austin, who married Shatta Monies, has four children, Alberta, Paul, Ruford and Ralph, and one de- ceased; Pearl, who is Mrs. Ernest Pruitt, of Ruyle Township, has had the following children, Virgil, Barbara, Georgia, Thelma, de- ceased, and Chester; Leola, who is Mrs. George Watts, of Jersey Township, has one living child, and two are deceased; and Alvin, who lives at home, was married to Daisy Davenport, and they have had two children, a daughter, Velma, who is living, and a son, Georgie, who is deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Woolsey bought eighty acres of land in Jersey Township from his father, and. at that time the land was covered with brush and timber. He cleared off the undergrowth, erected suitable buildings, and made of his farm a valuable prop- erty. In addition to this farm, he owns eighty acres more that is located in the same township, which he bought and inherited from his father's estate. In politics he is a Democrat and he has served as a school director and road commissioner. He is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Woolsey is one of the valued members of the local G. A. R. A man of sound principles, he has never been afraid to live up to them, and he stands very high in his community.
WRIGHT, Alfred G., one of the substantial business men of Grafton, is engaged in manufacturing and handling harness. He was born at Newville, Ind., near Fort Wayne, April 11, 1843, a son of John Wright, who was born in Ohio. John Wright was a Baptist minister, and during the Civil War, he was chaplain of a Michigan cavalry regiment, and served until the close of hostilities. He was married to Nancy
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Bartlett, who was born in Canada, and she died in Michigan. Of their seven sons and two daughters, Alfred G. Wright is the only one who survives. The Wright family is a historic one, the American founder coming to this country from France with General Lafayette, and becom- ing one of General Washington's personal body guards during the American Revolution.
Alfred G. Wright attended the schools of his district until he was eighteen years old, and he was then apprenticed to the harnessmaking trade. Many years later he returned to his old home, and visited the shop, in which he had learned his trade. Like his father, he gave his country a loyal service during the Civil War. After the close of the Civil War, Alfred G. Wright conducted a harnessmaking business in Missouri for three years, and then returned to Indiana. Some years later he located at Manchester, Ill., continuing in the same line of business, and in 1895, he settled at Grafton, opening his present estab- lishment at that time.
The first wife of Mr. Wright bore the maiden name of Mary Page, and she was a native of Indiana. When their first and only child, George Alfred, Wright, was born, she died, but the son survives and now lives in Indiana. While living at Manchester, Ill., Mr. Wright was married (second) to Miss Lucy Field, of Pike County, Ill., and they had two children, namely : Mattie Howard, who lives at Manchester, Ill. ; and Abbie Ebber, who lives at Hamburg, Ill. After the death of his second wife, Mr. Wright was married (third) at Grafton, to Mildred Miller. Mr. Wright belongs to Hildred Post No. 585, G. A. R., and is its present commander. Fraternally he is a Mason, and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America. His political views make him a Republican. A man of standing in his community, he is a valuable addition to it.
ZOEPHEL, Max, a prosperous dairyman of Otter Creek Town- ship, and a man widely and favorably known, was born in Saxony, Germany, December 17, 1877, a son of Charles A. P. Zocphel, also born in Germany, who is deceased, the only survivors of the family being Max Zoephel and his brother Albert, who is a baker, of East Troy, Wis.
In 1881 the parents of Max Zoephel brought their children to the United States, stopping first in St. Louis, Mo., where the father worked at his trade of stone cutting. After the death of the mother, the father was married again, and the step-mother who survives, makes her home with her step-son, Max Zoephel. In 1892 the family came to Grafton, and the sons, who had learned the father's trade, began working in the stone quarry. Later Max Zoephel was em- ployed on the cut stone work of the courthouse at Jerseyville. In 1900, when his father died, he bought his present dairy, and has built up a very fine trade.
In politics Mr. Zoephel is a Republican, and has been an alderman of Grafton, has served on the school board, and is now a justice of the
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peace. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. The Luth- eran Church holds his membership. Progressive and alert, Mr. Zoe- phel not only is an excellent business man, but he is also a good citi- zen and one who can be depended upon to support any measure look- ing toward the upbuilding and development of the county.
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