YEAR

AGE

EVENTS

The Early Years as a Child

1877

Henry Orton Wiley was born on November 11 in Marquette, Hamilton County, Nebraska to John Thompson Wiley from Iowa and Alice Chloe Johnston originally from Illinois. 

1881

4

Young Wiley began his education in the one-room "Pine-knot School" in Nebraska.

1886

9

Wiley's family moved to California.

1890

13

While living in Fresno County, Wiley helped with the plowing. 

1893

15

On May 22, Wiley finished grammar school at Red Bluff, California.

1895

17

In May, Wiley graduated from Medford High School.

The Preparatory Years as a Student and Young Minister

1898

20

Wiley graduated on June 3 from Oregon State Normal School in Ashland, Oregon. Later, he earned the State Board Diploma and was certified by the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy.

1901

24

Sensing a call to preach and a desire for more education, Wiley entered the University of California in Berkeley.

1902

25

Wiley experienced entire sanctification while attending the Berkeley (CA) Church of the Nazarene with visiting evangelist C.W. Ruth. Wiley was a UC student at the time.

On November 8, Wiley married to Alice Mary House from Berkeley, California. Rev. E.A. Girvin performed the ceremony at Berkeley Church of the Nazarene. They eventually had four children.

On December 10, Wiley was licensed to preach in the United Brethren church. He served the Gridley circuit and the Esparto circuit.

1905

28

Rev. Girvin asked Wiley to join Berkeley Church of the Nazarene as associate pastor. Wiley served this church for four years.

1906

29

Wiley was ordained as an elder in Church of the Nazarene by Phineas F. Bresee.

1909

32

Bresee asked Wiley to minister in a new church in San Jose. 

The Professional Years as an Educator

1910

33

After completing his college work, Wiley became registrar and dean at Nazarene University.

1913

36

Wiley was appointed President of Nazarene University.

1916

39

Amid conflict, Wiley left Nazarene University to complete seminary studies before moving to another college presidency at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho.

1926

49

Wiley was asked to return to the Presidency at Pasadena Nazarene College. 

1928

51

Wiley was elected Executive Secretary of the Board of Education, which capacity he served until 1940.

At the General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, Wiley was elected editor for the Herald of Holiness. He moved into his new responsibilities full-time by the end of the year. Wiley was elected to another four-year term in 1932. He completed his eight years editing the magazine and preaching all over the country, even after returning to Pasadena Nazarene College in 1933.

1933

56

With the college again steeped in debt, Wiley returned as the President to Pasadena Nazarene College . He continued his editorial responsibilities at the Herald of Holiness until the end of his second four-year term (1928-1936).

1940

64

Nazarene Publishing House prints the first volume of Wiley's Christian Theology texts. The second and third volumes are published in 1941 and 1943, respectively.

1948

72

Wiley suffered a severe heart attack. His former student, W. T. Purkiser became president of Pasadena College at the commencement of 1949. 

The Twilight Years as President Emeritus

1952

76

H. Orton and Alice Wiley marked their 50th wedding anniversary at a celebration organized by the students at Pasadena Nazarene College. 

1957

81

Alice Wiley died at the age of 77.

Black Friday occurred on March 15 when four popular faculty members were asked to resign. 

1959

83

During October, Wiley presented a lecture series in honor of his mentor from seminary, John Wright Buckham. The series was held at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

1961

84

On August 22, 12:22 p.m., Wiley died of cancer in his residence in Pasadena. The funeral was held on August 28 during Southern California District Camp Meeting.