Bio

• Born on a farm in Ophir Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. Received B.S. from East Paw Paw (IL) Classical Seminary as class valedictorian. Married Lilla Belle Carr in October 1897. They had a son and daughter. Employed as a school teacher and farmer until 1908. He was president of the First National Bank of Triumph until 1917. Served on the County Board of Supervisors and as a school director. He was a prominent member of the Masons.

  He began collecting coins at age fifteen. In about 1884 he began to deal in coins in Wheaton, Illinois. He died in a hospital in Aurora, Illinois. His collection, strong in paper money, was sold at auction by Bolender November 30, 1935, and February 8, 1936.

  In 1976 a group of catalogs appeared on the market that became known as the "Wylie hoard." They had been stored in a garage in Wheaton and were bought by Frank Katen. They were included in six Katen's mail bid sales during 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981. The hoard consisted of about 4800 catalogs including 1000 duplicates.

  obit: NUM 44 Aug 1931 page 583-584

Date of birth

• 1861-01-23

Place of birth

• Ophir Township, LaSalle County, Illinois

Date of death

• 1931-06-29

Relationships