Mexico Missouri message., 1918-06-27
Two Audrain Boys
Are Winning Fame
One Now A United States Senator
And The Other Perhaps The Great
est Botanist In The World.

ten the following to the st. Louis
Times:
Some of Xenophen p. Wilhey's
opponents have been inclined to
poke fun at HIS given name. II they
knew how it came about that he was
given the name of Xenophon they
would appreciate the fine Missouri
spirit associated with it. He was
named for a relative who held high
commission in the Confederate Army.
was a schoolmate of the present
junior Senator from Missouri in a lit
tie log cabin in Audrain county. Our
fathers both were farmers. And
was a chum OF Xenophon's Oldest
brother. Pindall wilhey, who. died
some years ago. The Wiley farm
was about two miles from the school
house. 1t was not the little red
school house" of song and story, be-
cause the people in our neighbor-
hood were too poor to buy paint.
It was located on the edge of Au-
drain county near the Monroe line,
Senator WilAey, you know, for a
long time walked with difficulty.
While in these days he gets around
any and everywhere with ease and
vigor, his condition in youth was
such that he could not walk at all.
In fact, l believe he was Is years old
before he had any practical use OF
his legs. During the early years of
his life he spent nearly every wax
ing hour in little wagon. In this
little wagon, by lifting himself up
on his arms, and using muscle build
ing athletics, he managed to develop
the upper part of his body which is
remarkably strong and vigorous.
In my minds eye 1 can see little
Zen, as we called him. seated in
the small, crude wagon, being haul
ed by his two older brothers, down
the country lane from the Wiley
farm to the school house. This wag-
on was drawn into the log school
room itself, and still sitting in it,
Zen" studied his lessons and gave
his recitations.
Being denied the outdoor sports
and pasttimes of other youngsters,
Zen" naturally turned to study. He
was a brilliant student from his ear
liest days, and this school house,
may tell you, had at that time as a
pupil Wallace w. Clendenin, the
greatest botanist perhaps in the
world. He is now professor in an
eastern college and is known in ev-
cry civilized country. But Zen"
was considered the brightest scholar
in that community. He out-distanced
all of his fellow students in every
line of study, and developed powers
of oratory at an early age.
The one thing in Senator Wilfey's
early life that impressed me most
was that he never for a moment per-
mitted his misfortune to embitter
him. His disposition always was
sweet and genial, and won the COM
plete affection of all his associates.
do not have to tell in detail how
he borrowed money to pay his way
thru Central College, in Howard
county, and how as he grew stronger
phyically he taught school and paid
back this money.
Here The Message might add
what has often been repeated lately:
X. P. Wiley obtained all his ed
ucation in Missouri. First in a log
cabin district school in Audrain
county, then in Clarksburg College,
in Moniteau county; at Central Col
lege in Fayette. Mo-, and the law
school of TT'lshington University, in
st. Louis, lie borrowed the money
to pay for his education and then
paid it back by teaching one year at
Central College and three years at
Sedalia.
In his college career Mr.. Wiley