Wiley Jones was born on January 11, 1811, in Harlan County, Kentucky. Some researchers believe he is the son of John Jones, Sr. and Sally Noe. He was a stocky man, 5’7” tall with fair complexion, black hair, and black blue eyes. On January 4, 1831, he married Sarah Hendrickson in Harlan County, KY at Straight Creek. During their lifetime, Wiley and Sarah lived in Harlan, Knox and Laurel Counties, and together, had 13 children.
On September 13, 1847, Wiley enrolled at London, KY, as a private in the company organized by Captain Andrew F. Caldwell for the duration of the Mexican-American War. On October 5, 1847, he was mustered in at Louisville, as part of Company K, 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers. Caldwell’s company then set off, on foot and by cart for Mexico City, here they were part of the occupying forces by December 1847. While there, Wiley became ill with Typhoid Fever. In June of 1848, the Regiment left Mexico City for Louisville. After being mustered out on July 21, 1848, Wiley finally received treatment for Rheumatic Fever from Dr. John Westerfield. For his service, he received 160 acres of land on Land Warrant #58823. In the fall of 1858, the family moved to a rural district on the Rockcastle River in Laurel County. There, Wiley ran a sugar camp, working as a stone mason, and serving the community on several commissions.

In October 1861, Wiley enlisted in the Union Army near London, KY, where he was selected as First Lieutenant for Company A of the 24th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Captain Hector H. Scoville. At the time of his enlistment, Wiley gave his age as 45, though on January 11, 1862, he would have been 51 years old. The regiment was attached to the 21st Brigade, Army of the Ohio, and saw action at several principal battles including the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth, the Battle of Perryville, the Knoxville and Atlanta Campaigns, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Siege of Atlanta, and the Battle of Jonesboro. During the Siege of Corinth, Wiley was advised to resign his commission by the Regimental Surgeon due to “severe and constant pain and weakness in his legs” which incapacitated him. He remained in Nashville TN for a several weeks in convalescence; before returning to Louisville, where he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Rockcastle Creek, where he would live for the remainder of his days.

On December 19, 1893, Wiley died at his home in Laurel. A veteran of two wars, he is buried in a private cemetery on Sugar Camp Road. The December 22, 1893 Mountain Echo Newspaper reports, that “Uncle Wiley Jones, one of the old landmarks of the county, and a very quiet, industrious and beloved citizen” died of “La Grippe”. “There has scarcely ever lived a man in this county whose name has been spoken of with more reverence.”