Lemon H. Wiley, band leader and principal musician of the 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (M539 ROLL 98), Aug. 15, 1862. He was promoted to Principal Musician June 29, 1864, Elmwood, IL (CdV).

From "Peoria City and County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 2" by James Montgomery Rice, Pub. S. J. Clarke, 1912.

LEMON HILL WILEY

There are many interesting incidents in the life record of Lemon Hill Wiley covering a long experience as a soldier of the Civil war, as a musician in connection with bands and orchestras and later as a political leader, in which connection he has done important public service. He was born in Carmichaels, Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1844. His father, also a native of that place, was a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade. In early life he was elected justice of the peace and thereafter to the end of his days at each regular election was the candidate of both the Whig and democratic parties. He became widely known as Squire Wiley and his record, uniformly characterized by justice and equity, won him the high commendation of the public. He died in 1882 and in the same decade his wife, who bore the maiden name of -May Jackson, passed away. She was bom in Greene County, near Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, and their children were Jackson, William, Lemon H., Elizabeth, Margaret, Mardelia and two who died in infancy.

Lemon H. Wiley attended the country schools, in which he acquainted himself with the usual branches of learning that constituted the public-school curriculum. He was too much of a musician, however, to make a good blacksmith, although he entered his father’s shop and attempted to learn the trade. He would whistle while he was pounding the hot iron and the nails which he was attempting to draw, for so the process was termed, would grow cold. At length his father said: “You are no blacksmith. I will make of you a musician." Nothing could have better suited the lad and for years his developing musical talent kept him in a foremost position among musical leaders of this and other states ...
Lemon H. Wiley, band leader and principal musician of the 77th Regiment, Illinois Infantry (M539 ROLL 98), Aug. 15, 1862. He was promoted to Principal Musician June 29, 1864, Elmwood, IL (CdV). From "Peoria City and County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 2" by James Montgomery Rice, Pub. S. J. Clarke, 1912.
LEMON HILL WILEY There are many interesting incidents in the life record of Lemon Hill Wiley covering a long experience as a soldier of the Civil war, as a musician in connection with bands and orchestras and later as a political leader, in which connection he has done important public service. He was born in Carmichaels, Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1844. His father, also a native of that place, was a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade. In early life he was elected justice of the peace and thereafter to the end of his days at each regular election was the candidate of both the Whig and democratic parties. He became widely known as Squire Wiley and his record, uniformly characterized by justice and equity, won him the high commendation of the public. He died in 1882 and in the same decade his wife, who bore the maiden name of -May Jackson, passed away. She was bom in Greene County, near Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, and their children were Jackson, William, Lemon H., Elizabeth, Margaret, Mardelia and two who died in infancy. Lemon H. Wiley attended the country schools, in which he acquainted himself with the usual branches of learning that constituted the public-school curriculum. He was too much of a musician, however, to make a good blacksmith, although he entered his father’s shop and attempted to learn the trade. He would whistle while he was pounding the hot iron and the nails which he was attempting to draw, for so the process was termed, would grow cold. At length his father said: “You are no blacksmith. I will make of you a musician." Nothing could have better suited the lad and for years his developing musical talent kept him in a foremost position among musical leaders of this and other states ...
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