- JOHN FRANKLIN WILLEY, editor and publisher of the "Farm
and Home," at Janesville,
- Rock County, is a well-known authority on agricultural matters,
and his journal enjoys a wide circulation on account of its reliability,
as well as its literary merit.
- John Franklin WILLEY was born in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia
Co., Vt., March 17, 1859, a son
- of George F. and Eliza (RAINES) WILLEY, natives of Vermont
and New Hampshire, respectively. The paternal grandfather of
our subject, Stephen WILLEY, a native of Maine, of Scottish descent,
died in Vermont, well advanced in years. There were three sons
and one daughter in his family. Mr. WILLEY was very prominent
in church affairs. The grandfather on the mother's side was a
native of Maine, of Scottish descent, and died at Bethel, that
State. By trade he was a machinist. He reared a large family.
- George F. WILLEY was a blacksmith by trade. In 1863 he came
West to Madison, Wis., and a
- year later removed to Beloit, where he died in 1868, aged
thirty-seven; his wife passed away two years previously, at the
age of thirty-three. Both of these worthy people were Free-Will
Baptists. Three children were born to them, one son and two
daughters: Our subject; Louisa C., wife of Frank N, BRIGGS, of
Brandon, Vt.; and Emma, wife of Charles HACKBARTH, of Lima, Wisconsin.
- John Franklin WILLEY came to Wisconsin with his parents residing
at home until the death of his
- father, in 1868, when he was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Malachi
RICHARDSON, of Janesville, both of whom are now deceased, he
dying on June 19, 1896 and his wife on Feb. 28, 1897. Mr. RICHARDSON
was an old settler of Janesville, and a gardener by occupation.
At one time he served as school commissioner. He was a man
of considerable education, having been a school teacher in his
younger days, and gladly assisted his young charge in his studies,
which the latter pursued in the excellent public schools. Following
the calling of his adopted father, Mr. WILLEY was a farmer and
gardener until he was thirty years of age, when he began the
publication of the "Wisconsin Tobacco Leaf," and continued
the journal until 1897, about eight years. At this time he started
the "Farm and Home," which, as its name implies, is
devoted to the interests of the farm and home. For the past
twelve years Mr. WILLEY has corresponded for a number of papers
on the subject of tobacco growing, and the industry in general,
being considered an authority upon the question. In religious
matters Mr. WILLEY takes a very liberal view, according to every
man the right to worship, as his conscience dictates, and himself
attends All Souls Church. Mr. WILLEY not only thoroughly understands
agricultural subjects, but is conversant with up-to-date methods
of getting out an attractive publication, and the "Farm
and Home" is welcomed, not only by the farmer, intent upon
securing valuable information relative to his work, but also
by the other members of the family, who enjoy the entertaining
stories and household articles presented to them within its pages.
Socially Mr. WILLEY has many friends, and is an agreeable, well-informed
gentleman; politically he is a stanch Republican.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, p. 389.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|