The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
WILLIAM DAVIS WILES
DIED YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER
A LINGERING ILLNESS.
Well known a Prosperous and r.
reprOachable business Man
Ex-Judge Holman Dead.

After several months of illness William
Davis Wiles, who was Familiarity known to his
friends as Captain Wiles, died at an early
hour yesterday morning, at his late home,
corner of Third and Illinois streets. He has
been afflicted with dropsy and kindred
trouble for several years, necessitating his
retirement from the wholesale grocery firm
OF Coffin & Wiles IN 1891. For a week past
ne has been in state of semi-unconscious-
ness, and the end was expected at any mo-
ment. 1t has been months since he was
able to lie down, and a chair has been his
couch. His wife has also been seriously i'll
for number of months. A few hours be-
fore his demise she carried into his
room, and he turned and recognized her,
then lapsed into Inconsistencies, from
which he did not rally. The funeral will
occur Tomorrow afternoon from the family
residence, Rey; j.. A. Milburn conducting
the service. The interment will follow at
Crown Hill. Friends may view the body
from to 3 O'Clock this afternoon
Mr., M. Wiles was born in Henry county.
that county and this. His father, like all
the pioneers. was poor and had a struggle
to keep his family supplied with the neces-
the elder of a large family had to assist in
that struggle. He helped clear the farm and
usual three months at the district school
In the winter. He was determined to get
an education, and by his own eXertlonS ne
was able to enter Friends Boarding School
(now Earlham College, in 1S47. From 1847
to 1850 he attended the academy and taught
at Rich Square. a Friends school in Henry
county. In 1852 he was deputy treasurer of
Henry county ard in 1855 he and his broth
er, Daniel H. began a mercantile business
at Lewisville. This was continued success
fully until they sold out to come to this
city in 1854. In 1865 he engaged in the whole
sale grocery trade in this city with David
W: Coffin III Ger the firm name of Coffin &
Wiles, and was continuously engaged in
that pursuit until 1891 when the firm retired
from business on account of Mr.. Wiles' 8
III health. No man ever did business on
Meridian street who had the confidence and
esteem of his customers and compitItors to
a higher degree than did Captain Wiles
raised issl o Of f 1he 1n
ana regiment and went to the front with IT.
After the battle of Shiloh he resigned on
he was such physical wreck that none
of his family friends expected he would
recover He has always taken an active in
terest in politics as Republican he served
Of Alderman and was defeated by James l..
Mitchell the Republican candidate for
was due to the opposition of saloons and
also of organized labor, which opposed him
because his son accepted work from the
Western Union during a strike, he being a
telegrapher.
He was an Odd Fellow for forty years
and was also member of the knights of
fetal organizations. He had a birth right
in the Society of Friends, but was disOwned
for entering the army Shortly before his
death he was baptised at his home by Rev.
Mr.. Milburn and received into the member
sri of the Second Presbyterian Church, of
which his wife. has long, been a member.
him. Mrs; Smith, of this city Mrs; Frank
TGuse of H sd S s
family in comfortable circumstances.