The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-03
VENERABLE
SEN. WILEY
PASSES AWAY.
During the sttll Hours Of the Hight
the Grand Old Man Went
quietly to Sleep.
BORN LEADER OF MEN.
For Fifty Years Was One Of the Most
Distinguished Statesmen in
the New Dominion.

s,erlal Dispatch to the lntelllgencer'
MoRGANTowN. w. Va, May Alt
was always the wish of Hon. waltman
y Wiley that death would come to him
=, sweet sleep. Providence granted
his desire. and this morning at O'Clock
when all was hushed and still, this grand
old man went quietly to sleep. His son
John b., and daughter, Louise, were
with him, when he died.
Mr. Wiley had been bed-fast several
months and for fortnight had been
failing rapidly. His death was not a
surprise to his friends. although the
summons came rather unexpectedly.
Senator Wiley was aged eIghty-eight
years. His wife, who was Miss Eliza.
beth Ray, preceded him to the grave ten
years. OF their union there were sew
eral children. Mary E., who intermar-
rIed with NJ. L. CasseTlberry. NJ. D., and
who deceased in September, 1862; Sarah
r. who intermarried with ]. NJ. HH-
rans deceased; William p, now law
professor in the West Virginia UnIver-
L,y; julia E.. intermarried with ex-
state Senator w. c. McGrew, living;
Thomas R. Wiley, now in the employ
OF the government at Washington, in
the pension ofice; Louisa A,,living with
her father on Chaacery Hill; John b.
Wiley living with his father At the old
homestead.
sena.9r Wiley resided on Chancery
Hill In the home built by him in 1880.
1t Is not high dwelling, but broad and
deep, with spacious halls and rooms and
looks as substantial to-day as ever. If
the senator had not been conspicuous
In public life, his continued residence
on chancery Hill would entitle him to
local celebrity at least. For fifty years
he travelled the long steep hill between
his home and Morgantown's business
centre.
One Of the Great Men Of the State.
Senator wllley's death removes one
Of the most distinguished men the state
ever had. He was conspicuous when
many Of the leading men OF the state
to-day were boys. For a full half cen-
tury Waltman T. Wiley was a leader
Of men; every one who knew him had
confidence and respect for him. He was
the father OF the New Dominion, and
stood by the new state when 1t needed
guidance by man with q clear braia
and a strong hand. He was one of the
very few men who had no enemies. He
kept his life 30 pure and clean and dealt
with his fellow men 50 fairly that pso-
pie looked upon him as an example Of
true greatness.
Senator Wiley had the confidence
and esteem Of the great public men Of
his day. President Lincoln knew him
and trusted him. as a friend; james q.
Blaine, in his Twenty Years Of Con-
gress," speaks Of him in very complI-
mentary terms; James Bryce, in his
American Commonwealth" says Of
one Of Mr.. willeys speeches on the
slavery question that 1t was one Of the
best ever delivered on the floor Of the
United States senate, and quotes from
this speech to suseain an argument
against slavery.
The funeral win be held Friday morn
Ing and u great number Of noted men
Of this and other states have sIgnlhed
their Intention to bs present. The local
bar association will take action to-
morrow morning on his death. The
board of trustees of the Methodist Epis-
copal church met this afternoon, and
passed euiogistIc resolutions.