ILLIAM LORENZO WILEY (1820-1900) wondered in a poem he penned what would become of a book of poetry he wrote in 1893.
The founder of Galva in Henry County and president of its first bank, Wiley dedicated the poetry book to his only child who survived to adulthood,
JESSIE LOUISE WILEY HARE.
The poem is titled "One Hundred Years from Now."
"I wonder where this book will be a hundred years from now; and when two hundred years are past, who'll have it then, and how?" writes Wiley, who also was president of the Peoria and Rock Island Railroad.
The poem, which once was considered as an opening to a poetry exhibit, is part of the temporary exhibition "Chapter and Verse: Connecting to Poetry in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library."
The poetry exhibit will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through September at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St.
The exhibit also features poet laureates of Illinois and other prominent poets.
