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Wiley, William Lorenzo

business man, poet, was born Nov. 10, 1820, in Saxton's River, Vt. For six years he was engaged in educational work; then entered mercantile work in his native place, where he was also postmaster. In 1851 he moved to Illinois, and dealt largely in real estate. In connection with his brothers, George and Henry Wiley and others, he laid out the town of Galva, and built the first school house.

He was the first president of the First National bank of Galva, and a director until the charter expired. He was a delegate to the republican national convention in Chicago that nominated Grant for president; and for many years was vice-president and director in the Rock Island and Peoria Railroad company. For four years he was a member of the state board of equalization from his district; and is now and has been for years president of the board of education of Galva, Ill. He is the author of a number of meritorious poems, some of which can be found in Poets of America, and other standard works.