The Ocala evening star., 1915-09-06
WHAT HAS BECOME
OF PROFESSOR WILEY?

A good many people in Marion
county are beginning to wonder what
has become of Prof. Jos. L. Wiley, for
ten years or more principal of Fes-
sender Academy at Fessenden, eight
miles north of Ocala- He left here
two months ago and has not been
heard from since.
Fessenden Academy, often referred
to as the Tuskegee of Florida, was
founded by a Massachusetts man,
=, Samuel Fessenden, a number of years
ago, he intending it as an industrial
school for colored children. 1t has
been very successful, particularly
since Wiley became principal.
! The school is under the manage
ment of the American Missionary So
ciety, and it has also had the help
and cooperation of the Marion eoun-
ty school board, the school authorities
seeing that it was doing a good work
for colored children and being willing
to help. This arrangement was car
ried on very harmoniously for a num-
Der of years. Professor Wiley was
probably more than any other one
man responsible for the arrangement
lasting so long. He is a very intelli-
gent man, we'll educated, and with a
great amount of tact; a quality much
needed in the position. He gave good
satisfaction to the school board, and
seemed to be giving it to the society;
so everybody was surprised to learn a
few weeks ago that he had resigned.
The Star is informed that the mis-
sionary society says there had been
considerable friction between it and
Wiley for some time. He did not al
ways approve of the teachers it sent
, here, and there were other troubles,
. so it requested his resignation. Short
; ly after, he left here, .ostensibly to go
to Alabama, but if he is in Alabama,
his friends here don't know his where
, abouts.
/ The missionary society has sent j
man named Barnwell to take charge
[ of the academy. The school will be
carried on, but the county school
: board has withdrawn its support
: This is the proper thing to do, be-
cause no matter how well a private
, school may get along in alliance with
, public institutions, there is bound tC
be trouble sooner or later. The Mar.
Z ion county school board never haC
: any trouble with Wiley, and it is. &
tribute to him that they are not will
ing to risk anyone else.
: JOS. l.. Wiley is a northern borr
colored man, ane one of the few ot
his race from the north who
. are able to fit into their place in the
south. He tried to win the confidenc,
of the white people and gain theil
help, and succeeded remarkably well
As principal of Fessenden, he did 1
great deal of good, trying to teach tn,
young negroes that they needed edu
cation for their hands as well a.
their heads, and that one of theil
greatest needs was the ability to ge
along in harmony with the white peo
pie.
There was no particular necessit!
for Prof. Wiley to leave Ocala. HI
has made some good investments an,
: is comparatively well off. He is
very sensitive man and was devote,
to his work. If his friends do no
hear of him soon, they will be afrai,
something serious has happened L
him.
Frank Gadson informs the Star tha
he has just received a letter from
Prof. Wiley's wife, who is in Nash
vile. She has heard nothing of him
: and is in great distress at his pro
longed absence.