Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-03

vacancy occasioned by the death of the
then incumbent In October, 1884, he
was elected by the people to said Of
flee for term of six years.
Madison College, from which Mr..
Wiley graduated, was merged into
Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa, and
the latter conferred upon him the de-
gree of Master of Arts. Some years
later the honorary degree of Master of
Arts was conferred upon him by Au-
gusta College. While Mr.. Wiley was a
Senator in Congress Allegheny College
conferred upon him the honorary de-
gress of Doctor of Laws. A few years
ago the West Virginia University con-
ferred upon him the same degree.
1t is impossible in the limited space
at my command to more than allude
to the life work of such a man as ex
Senator Wiley. For quarter of a
century before the civil war he and the
late George w. Summers, of Kanawha
county, were universally regarded as
the Wing Wheel-horses of Western Vir-
GINA. In majority of the counties
that now compose West Virginia Mr..
Wiley, during his entire public career,
was the acknowledged champion of his
party. He was a man of great indus
try. But few public men delivered a
greater number of addresses and lee
lures on subjects of general interest.
Besides, he wrote much for newspapers
and periodicals on both political and
religious subjects. He was for half
century almost constantly ION the CO."
He was great orator. The writer
has heard him in his prime, when the
sweep of his power was utterly ire
sistible. Rising to the magnitude of his
subject, the electric current could al
most be seen to scintillate from the
ends of his long, bony fingers as his
high genius illumined his kindling
eyes. His great oratorical triumphs on
the platform, in the halls of Congress
and at the bar are scattered over
period of more than fifty years, and
alone would furnish material for a
large and interesting volume At his
late home in Morgantown, the seat of
the West Virginia University, he was
kindly spoken of as ''the old-man-elo-
quent," and all classes admired him
with that degree of esteem that reach
es absolute reverence.
But better than reputation for ora
tory, craftsmanship and legal attain
ments is a character for honesty, So
briefly and sterling integrity. Mr.. Will
ley's reputation for probity in public
and private life was as spotless as
maiden's and as unsullied as a ray of
light. Through his church relations
his name had become familiar to thous-
ands of the homes of the land as the
synonym for purity and exalted Chris
tian character. His memory will be
perpetuated signally and with lasting
certainty through the influence of a
lofty example, in which were exhibited
all the noble qualities that enter into
the composition of a character which
combines a just pride without ostenta-
ton, candor without discrimination, hui
mility without affectation, learning
without vanity, generosity without sell
fishness, truth without fear. All of
these elements were the environments
of Mr.. Willey's daily existence and are
the leading lessons of his blameless
life
The funeral will take place on Fri
day morning at 10 o'clock from his
late residence on Chancery Hill. 1t
will be conducted by Rev. S. V. Leech
and will be attended by an immense
throng of people. The Bar Of this coun-
ty will meet at nine o'clock on Thurs
day morning to pass the proper resolu-
lions of respect for the departed leader