Ben Ladd Wiley

Benjamin L. Wiley died 22 Mar 1890, at his residence near Makanda, aged 68 years. He was born 25 Mar 1821, in Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio. He landed 13 Jun 1845, at Metropolis, Massac County, and walked to Vienna, Johnson County. He was a school teacher. In 1846 he enlisted in John M. Cunningham’s Company, 1st Regiment Illinois Volunteers, during the Mexican War. He moved to Jonesboro and helped found and edit the Jonesboro Gazette in 1849. He married on 5 Dec 1850, Emily Davie. He had seven sons and two daughters, ages 17 to 38. He had a hardware store in Jonesboro, then became a traveling salesman in Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky. He was founder of Cobden with L.W. Ashley and D.L. Phillips. He moved in August 1860 to his farm near Makanda. He was Lt. Col. of 5th Illinois Cavalry during the Civil War, enlisting 9 Sep 1861. He was disabled by rheumatism. He was appointed enrolling commissioner at Cairo, and mustered out May 1865. He was a Whig, but became a Republ
 ican at the party’s organization. He ran for Congress in 1856 and 1876. He was a Mason. He was a Quaker from birth, although he did not conform to their dress and dialect. In 1885 he had a stroke of paralysis.

Source:  Jonesboro Gazette 29 Mar 1890
Transcribed by Darrel Dexter

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AN ACCOUNTY OF BENJAMIN LADD WILEY’S DEATH
as recorded by his son,
CHARLES H. WILEY

Anna Ills. Mar. 26/90
Concerning the death of my Father Ben Ladd Wiley

Though having suffered with the asthma and heart trouble in the spring and summer of 1888 yet he was enjoying his usual good health until Mar. 11/90 [when] he was taken sick with the prevailing disease “Russian La Grippe” and on Friday 3/14 the old asthma trouble came back and Friday night was the last time he went to bed.  On Monday I visited him and Mother and found him able to be up and walk around the house and Mother was some better.  Tuesday morning 3/18 Father was much weaker.  I returned to my work at Anna that morning but heard from home each day that he was growing weaker.  On Thursday March 20/90 I received a letter from John stating that Father could live but a few days, so I returned to Makanda that evening and found him verry weak but Dr. J.M. Agnew was with [him] and remained with him most of the time until his death.  After being in the room a while Father raised his head from the real..?.. they had made for him, and [he] recognized me, and said, “Dock,
 when did you come?”, then falling asleep.  He did not recognize anyone anymore for a while.  I sent to bed at 12 o’clock Thursday night but they called me at 2 o’clock Friday morning 21st saying Father was dying.  We were all around his chair in a few moments (all except William he was not there).  Father was conscious then and talked some to Mother.  His greatist trouble seemed to be that Mother would grieve over him so much as to make her worse as she was very weak.  He says “Take it cool ma and don’t worry for me.  I am all right.  I am not afraid to go.  The boys will take care of you.  There is lots of land and they can set out orchards and keep you all right.  This asthma and grip is too much for an old man.  I can’t stand it.  I must go but I am not afraid to go.  I was always ready whenever the Lord called for me.  It is all right.”  He grew weaker until 4 o’clock a.m. when he dropped into a sleep and slept until morning.  Dr. Agnew had not been with h
 im durning the night having been called away about 8 o’clock Thursday 20 inst to see a patient about 4 miles south east of Makanda and did not get back until Friday morning and Mrs. S.A. Walton, D.S. Davie and wife came Friday afternoon.  Father remained semi unconcous all day rousing up at times for a few moments but were talking of the Goodman boys forging his mother’s name to a express check Father asked what they were talking about.  When Dr. Agnew explained it to him he said “yes that was forging”.  He continued to sleep most of the time until one o’clock Saturday morning 22 inst when they noticed he stoped breathing for what should have been 4 or 5 respirations.  They called us again and we were all in the room in a moment.  But Father never became concious again passing away Mar. 22 at 1:15 without a struggle and as easy as a child could fall asleep.  There was gathered around his death chair Mother and all the children, Mr. D.S. Davie and wife, Mrs. S.A. Wal
 ton, Mrs. M.A. Perrine, Mr. S. W. Brown, Mrs. Jno. A. Wiley, Mrs. D.D. Wiley, Edward S.S. Leib, D.F. M. Agnew and some neighbors.  Mrs. W.W. Wiley and Mrs. D.W. Brown came Saturday afternoon.  The funeral was on Sunday (a beautiful day) March 23, at 2:30 p.m. so as to meet the special car from Anna on the 2:30 train.  This was also a special train from Murphysboro to Carbondale to meet the noon train from Carbondale to Makanda at Mother’s request.  We six younger boys, Jno., Ben, Dan, Chas, Henry and James acted as pall bearers, laying Father to rest in the beautiful cemetery on the hill above Makanda.

This account is from a small notebook given to Joyce (Wiley) Swogger by Carl Wiley.

Source:    Newspaper: personal notes found in effects  26 Mar 1890

Wiley Family History, compiled by Joyce Wiley Swogger, 1996, pp. 269-270.

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