Amos Sawyer Wiley

Amos Wiley was born in 1859 to John Wiley and Elizabeth Sawyer. The first record I have of Amos is the July 28 , 1870 Census in New Liberty Illinois.  Also in the household is father John Wiley age 51 from VA,his mother Eliza age 39 from Tennessee. Sisters Maria age 18 and Mary age 5. Children all born in Illinois. Close Neighbors include  Holt, Metcalf, King, Brown, Holman, Johnson, Bright, Clemens, Tooiless, Allsman, Watson, among others living in New Liberty in 1870. Jas (James) Murry was also living in New Liberty in 1870. In the Murry household is John E Murry ( My Grandmother Rose Murry's Father, he is 7 years old)

Next I find Amos on June 23 on the 1880 Census, Jefferson Precinct. In the household is his Mother Eliza and sister Mary A. age 15. His mother as listed as widow so John Wiley died between 1870 and 1880.Eliza has her age as 40 funny since 10 years earlier she was 39. I guess she doesn't want to get older. or someone could have guessed her age and guessed wrong. Maria has left the household.  I later found out John Wiley died on April 11, 1876 in Fulton. Eliza gave this information when she filed for Pension. ( You can find this Pension Application in the Documents Section)

Next I find Amos on April 10,1882. His place of Residence is listed as Massac County . Occupation is listed as Farmer.He is 23 years Old and list place of birth as Pope County. This information is found on his Marriage to Ella M Collins age 17 Daughter of Thomas Collins and Margaret Douglas. Ella list place of birth as Massac County Illinois. Amos list his parents as John Wiley and Eliza Sawyer. The marriage took place in Unionville ,Massac County.Witness: J.K and B.S Drugger. 

The last information I have for Amos is sadly his Death Certificate. He died March 25, 1939. Cause: weakened condition of the heart caused by the Flu. This is also online.  Date of birth is listed as October 7, 1860. Parents are listed as John Wiley and Eliza Sawyer. Residence is listed as New Liberty. Full name is listed as Amos Sawyer Wiley. 

This research is never ending and I am always trying to find out more about my family. If anyone knows anything about this family Please email below. If you would like to make comments or suggestions they are always welcome!

This page was last updated on: October 28, 2009

The next place I find Amos is December 8th 1887 of his marriage to Alice Holt, daughter of Allen Holt and Mary Ann Metcalf (Medcalf).  Amos list age as 28, this is his second marriage. He is a Farmer, was born in Illinois and place of residence  Ill. Again he list parents as John Wiley and Eliza Sawyer. Witness to this marriage is his Mother Eliza Wiley and Alice Father Allen Holt.

1900 Census- Amos is found on the census with wife Alice and Children Maude, Frank, Nellie, Luke , Mexie and Rhoda. Amos has place of birth as Kentucky for himself and both parents. Alice has place of birth as IL for herself and Tennessee for both parents. On both of Amos marriage Lic he list place of birth as IL.  It was very common for Census takers to record the wrong information for a number of reasons, one being the person at the house giving the information if they don't know it may just guess. Judging from all other Documents relating to Amos , I would guess place of birth was IL.

1930 Census- 

Here Amos is found with wife Alice and children, Frank, Arlett and Landis. He also list  a Lodger as  " Willie Murry" and a granddaughter as "  ( I can't read the first name) Willey.

Amos list father's birthplace as Vermont and mother's as Tennessee.

Alice list both parents as United States.

UPDATED 

I next find Amos and family on the 1910 Census in Pope County(Jackson Precinct may have been Massac County.) Illinois. Notice he is living beside daughter Maude Roby. Notice the 

spelling of Wiley is Wylie. Mispelliings are very common in all old documents,expecially with Census. If the family member who was home at the time of the census couldn't read or write it was up to the census takers to spell the name. They would spell the name how it sounded which is probably what happened here. Amos list his fathers place of birth as Vermont. So for according to Censu we have birthplace of John Wiley as Canada, Virginia and Vermont. 

Amos and family are still in the Jackson Precinct on the 1920 Census.

He is listed with wife Alice and the following children. Mahala, Ora, Lottie, Truman, Arlett and Landis. On this Census fathers place of birth is listed as Illinois.  So for John Wileys place of birth we can now add

Illinois to Canada, Virginia, and Vermont.