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S. S. Wiley, farmer of Big River Township, Jefferson County, and a 
native of the same, was born in 1840.  He is the eighth of nine sons
and four daughters born to Eli and Lucina (Mars) Wiley.  The father
was born near Raleigh, N. C., in 1799, and at the age of five removed
with his father, John Wiley, to Maury County, Tenn., where he lived
until 1822.  At that date he and a family by the name of Griffith
hired a flat boat, and pulled from the mouth of the Tennessee River 
to the mouth of Isle Au Bois, in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo.  From 
there he went to Jefferson County, and located on Dry Creek at what 
is known as the "Stone House Place," but later removed to a place 
situated five miles north of this, and here passed the remainder of
his days.  He died in December, 1878.  He was one of the county's
well to do farmers and influential citizens, and an active member of
the Presbyterian Church.  He was for some years justice of the peace,
and was also a short time associate judge of the county court.  He 
was married when young, and his wife, who is about eighty-three years 
of age and who was born in Monroe County, Ill., is now living, and is
a member of the Baptist Church.  S. S. Wiley was reared at home, and 
received a common country school education.  In 1862 he enlisted in
Company I, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was in the battle
of Vicksburg, and after that was on post duty most of the time until
1865, when he was discharged at Montgomery, Ala., after over three
years of active service.  He then returned home, and in 1867 was united 

in marriage to Miss Alwilda, daughter of William and Elizabeth Shelton, 

early settlers of Jefferson County, where Mrs. Wiley was born.  To this 

union two children, Eli and William, were born.  Mrs. Wiley departed this 

life in March, 1872.  Mr. Wiley is a successful farmer, is a Democrat in 

politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.