BIOGRAPHIES
Pike County IL
Hon. Scott Wike, an honored citizen of Pittsfiled, Pike County, Illinois, was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, 6 Apr 1834. He is the son of George & Ann Grubb Wike, both of whom descend from German ancestors. The family removed to Quincy, Illinois in 1838, and in 1844 established their home in Pike County. Scott was educated at Lombard University in Galesburg being graduated from tehre in 1857, after which he studied law with Judge O. C. Skinner in Quincy. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar, but not being satisfied with his legal attainments, he entered Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massechusetts and received a diploma from there in 1859.
The same year Mr. wike opened an office at Pittsfield which he has made his home from that time to the present. His practice is satifactory in extent, furnishing him with an adequate support and is amply sufficient to give him the reputation of an able counselor, judicous pleader and forcible expounder of legal principals. Mr Wike is perhaps bertter known in this vicinity as a legislator better than as a lawyer, as a place among the legislators of the State is more conspicuous than one upon the bar. He was twice elected to the legislature, serving from 1863 to 1867, and has twice been a member of Congress serving in the Fourty-fourth and the Fifty-first. At teh last election he received 21,938 votes while his opponent, william H. Collins, [Republican], had but 16,628. He is representing the 12th Congressional District composed of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Jersey, Pike, and Scott Counties.
World Connect Website of Jean McClellan-Chambers
US Congressman. His family moved to Quincy, Illinois in 1838 and to Pike County in 1844. Wike worked in his father's woolen mill while attending school, and graduated from Galesburg's Lombard University in 1857. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and attended Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1859. Wike practiced law in Pittsfield, Illinois, and served in the state House of Representatives from 1863 to 1867. In 1874 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat, and served one term, 1875 to 1877. Wike ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1876, afterwards returning to his law practice. In 1888 he was again elected to Congress and served two terms, 1889 to 1893. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892. In 1893 Wike was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury by President Cleveland. He served until 1897, afterwards returning to the practice of law in Pittsfield. After leaving government service, Wike traveled to England to study the income tax, with the goal of determining whether it would be feasible if implemented in the United States.
by: Bill McKern found on "Find-A-Grave")
