Springfield-Greene
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GEORGE PARKER WILEY. There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The qualities of keen discernment, accurate discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability entered very largely into the makeup of the late George Parker Wiley, for a period of fifteen years one of the most prominent of the younger business men of Springfield, and the above enumerated characteristics were contributing elements to the material success which came to him.
Mr. Wiley was born at Charleston, Illinois, November 7, 1871. He was a son of Eli and Martha Sanborn (Whittemore) Wiley. The father was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, in 1822 and there grew to manhood and received his primary education in the public schools, later attending a law school in Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1860, and soon thereafter began the practice of his profession in which he rose to prominence. For many years he made his home at Charleston, Illinois. He continued his law practice until his death. His wife was a native of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, and she was graduated from the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire. To these parents were born seven children, all now deceased, but a daughter, Mrs. Hagemeyer, who is living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
George P. Wiley grew to manhood in Charleston, Illinois, and there he received a good education in the public schools, and after his graduation from Yale, class of 1895, he came to Springfield, Missouri, where he was engaged for three years as cashier of the Springfield Traction Company, then became interested in mercantile pursuits for a number of years. He was secretary and treasurer of the George H. Tefft Grocery Company for some time and at the time of his death he was secretary and part owner of the Anchor Broom Works of Springfield, which he did much to make a pronounced success by his industry, wise counsel and sound judgment, in fact, all his business ventures had been a success.
Mr. Wiley was married on July 27, 1898, to Georgia Moist, who was born near Springfield, Missouri, and there she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a daughter of Matthias and Anna (McCarty) Moist, whose family consisted of three children; Georgia, who married Mr. Wiley of this memoir; Roger and Marshall, all living in Springfield. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley was without issue.
Mr. Wiley was summoned to his reward very suddenly, after an illness of three days, May 13, 1908, when in the prime of life, and when life to him promised most. He evidently had a brilliant business career ahead of him had he lived. He was well known and universally liked. Religiously, he was a worthy member of the Presbyterian church, in Charleston, Illinois.
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