From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan

By Henry F. ThomasPublished 1907, Lewis Publishing Co.

HON. D. W. WILEY is a representative of the agricultural and horticultural interests in Saugatuck township, following only the most modern and scientific methods in carrying on his business interests. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, June 27, 1837, a son of Nicholas and Martha A. (Davis) Wiley, who came to Michigan from the. Buckeye state in 1852, the family home being established near Kalamazoo, where the father purchased eighty acres of land, and carried on farming pursuits for several years, subsequent to which time he took up his abode in Barry county, this state, and there spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1895, when he had reached the very advanced age of eighty-three years. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children but the subject of this review is the only one living in Allegan county. D. W. Wiley was reared in his native state to the age of fifteen years, when, in 1852, he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state.

He acquired his education in the district schools near his father's home, thus fitting himself for the responsible duties of life which he entered upon when starting out in life upon an independent business career. He remained with his father, assisting him in the work of carrying on the homestead property until 1860, at which time he started out in life for himself, being then a young man of twenty-nine years. Upon his arrival in this county he purchased a half interest in one hundred acres of land, his partner being B. S. Williams, of Kalamazoo. In 1867 they set out a fruit orchard, devoting forty acres of the tract to the cultivation of peaches, and they also set out about three acres to grapes, raising the Concord, Delaware, Ives, Hartford, Diana and lona varieties. In 1874 they shipped fifteen thousand baskets of peaches from their farm, and in their work met with creditable success. After a few years Mr. Wiley disposed of his interest to his partner and then purchased his present farm, comprising eighty acres, and with the exception of a period of a few years spent in Kalamazoo, Mr. Wiley has since made his home on his farm to the present time. This property is devoted principally to the raising of fruit, of which fifteen acres are devoted to peaches, while on the place there are fifteen hundred pear trees, four hundred plum trees, two hundred and fifty apple trees, two hundred cherry trees, two acres of strawberries, two acres of blackberries, three-fourths of an acre of raspberries, and a half acre each of currants and gooseberries, while the remainder of the place is devoted to general agricultural pursuits, and in his work he follows practical and progressive methods, which always produce the best results.

Mr. Wiley, although leading an active and busy life, has also found time for public affairs, and in 1874-75 he served as representative in the state legislature, which position he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, being elected to the office by the popular vote of his many friends regardless of party affiliation. During his term of office he served on a number of important committees. He was the first president of the village of Douglas and for a number of years has served as school director, the cause of public education finding in him a stalwart friend. In 1870 he was chosen president of the Agricultural and Pomological Society, in which office he is now the present incumbent. Fraternally he holds membership relations with Dutcher Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M.

As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Wiley chose Miss Lucy A. Hall, who was born in New York, and their union has been blessed with four sons, of whom two now survive, Frank E., a farmer of Allegan county; Oscar D., a resident of Chicago; Burton O., who has passed away, and Homer D., also deceased. Mr. Wiley is indeed a self-made man, for, starting out in life empty-handed he has worked his way steadily upward from the bottom round of the ladder until he has now reached the topmost round, having in the meantime accumulated a good property and a handsome competence that now supplies him in the evening of his days with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Having spent the greater part of his life in Michigan, thirty years of which have been spent in Allegan county, he has here a wide and favorable acquaintance and is a highly respected citizen of the community, where he is known for his reliability and
straightforward methods in every relation of life.