Third Generation

34. Wiley Wilson Oxley²¹² was born on 2 Jun 1857 in Franklin Co., VA.^{52,53,201,213,214,215} He appeared in the census in 1860 in Salem P.O., Roanoke Co., VA.⁴⁷ Listed under John Oxford as Wiley, male, white, age 3, born in VA. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Clinton Twp., Texas Co., MO.⁵² Listed under Dartha Oxley as Wiley W, age 12, born in VA. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Clinton Twp., Texas Co., MO.⁵³ Listed under Darthy OXLEY as W. W. OXLEY, son, single, male, white, age 22, born in VA, occupation works on farm, father born in VA, mother born in VA. In 1882 he was united with the Church of the Brethren in Texas Co., MO.²¹⁴ His residence was State Lunatic Asylum No. Three in Washington Twp., Vernon Co., MO between 31 Dec 1891 and 5 Dec 1918.^{213,214,216,217} He appeared in the census in 1900 in Washington Twp., Vernon Co., MO.²¹³ Listed as Wiley W. Oxley, white, male, age 43, born in VA. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Washington Twp., Vernon Co., MO.²¹⁶ Listed as Wiley Oxley, Inmate, male, white, age 54, married, born in VA, occupation None-Hospital, language spoken "none". He died of mental illness on 5 Dec 1918 in Nevada, MO.^201,214,215 He was buried in a grave on the grounds of State Lunatic Asylum No. Three on 7 Dec 1918 in Washington Twp., Vernon Co., MO.^215,217
[Excerpt from The Road Taken by Catherine Crown Manning]
There was plenty of food on the Oxley table and Ella bloomed in the new found security and prosperity of her marriage. A year and a half after their marriage Wiley and Ella were blessed with a son John C. Oxley. Things were more complicated, but still so much more tranquil than the Amos household. Then about May 1891, Ella began waking up feeling poorly and there were other signs that another baby was on the way. Ella was "showing" right away and wondered about this baby. Wiley kept on with the farm work as summer crops began ripening.

Disaster hit in July. Wiley became confused and dysfunctional after working in the heat. Grandma said he was trapped for a time in a hot barn during haying. Louise Murr, granddaughter of Joel Preston Oxley recalled her grandfather saying Wiley was helping plant potatoes in the hot sun when he became blind with a severe headache and acting irrational. Whatever the circumstances, his eye sight returned; but his mind didn't. Day after day as Ella's belly seemed to enlarge before their eyes, Wiley sat passive and confused in the farm house.

Thus at 20 years old, Ella had three babies and a husband whose physical health was failing and who seemed to have lost his mind. They admitted Wiley W. Oxley, age 35, to a state mental institution at Nevada, Missouri on December 31, 1891. His older brother John William Oxley acted as his official correspondent. Their stationery leaves no doubt as to their business: "State Lunatic Asylum No. 3 - Address all Correspondence Concerning Patients to Dr. J. F. Robinson, Superintendent."

Ella would also go up to Nevada when she could to visit Wiley. She took the stage to Mansfield and then the rail. It was a long, hard, sad trip. Wiley had some relatives living in Nevada so Ella would spend the night with them.

Wiley lived in the large stone building with the high fence around it for 27 years and his bones are still there. The body was taken on December 5, 1918 to Milster Funeral Home in Nevada for embalming and then returned to Asylum No. 3. For convenience, the patients were often buried on hospital grounds. There are over 1000 graves. Small stones with the names, but no dates, were placed at the head of the grave. Over time, the natural grasses formed a heavy turf over the stones and the graveyards disappeared and were largely forgotten.
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Wiley Wilson Oxley and Ella Rachel Amos were married on 7 Aug 1887 in Texas Co., MO.^{201,218,219,220} Ella Rachel Amos^201,212 (daughter of John Marshall Amos and Virginia "Jenny" Scarce) was born on 18 Jan 1870 in Madison Co., TN.²⁰¹ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Mountain Twp., Barry Co., MO.²²¹ Listed under Terry Burch as Ellie, Wife, white, female, born Jan 1870 in TN, age 30, married 13 yrs, children born/still living 3/3, father born in VA, mother born in VA. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Barren Fork Twp., Ozark Co., MO.²²² Listed under Terry Burch as Ella, Wife, female, white, age 40, married(2) 11 yrs, children born/still living 7/7, born in TN, father born in VA, mother born in VA. She died of diabetes and kidney failure on 30 Jul 1915 in Ozark Co., MO.^201,223 She was buried in Herndon Cemetery about 30 Jul 1915 in Ozark Co., MO.²⁰¹ Wiley Wilson Oxley and Ella Rachel Amos had the following children:

+133	i.	John C. Oxley.
+134	ii.	Jacob Edward "Ed" Oxley.
+135	iii.	Thomas Frederick "Fred" Oxley.