Where is He When We Need Him?
- William Darron
- Jan 27
- 5 min read
In 1896 the Wiles family moved to Rush from East Buffalo. James W. Wiles was a messenger for the Erie Railroad. He learned telegraphy and joined the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1891. James became the L.V.R.R. agent in Rush until he retired in 1939.
James Lee Wiles (who became known as Lee) was six months old when his family moved to Rush. Lee attended school in Rush and fought in World War I. When he came home, he attended Rochester Business Institute.
In 1921 he and a partner bought a garage in Rush that was a Ford dealer. Their business also sold radios and appliances. Lee was an excellent local businessman who got to know people by selling to them. He became involved with many different civic groups, including the Rush Fire Department, the Methodist Church, the Rotary Club and the American Legion.
Lee was active in the plays and meetings and other community activities that were going on. There was no building for the Fire Department, so their equipment was stored in his garage. Rush was growing and it was hard to find a place where people could gather and socialize. As he got older, the problem became more acute. Local groups were collecting funds for a new community center and Town Hall. Lee became active in Town government and started campaigning for a bond issue to fund a new Town Hall.
Lee was unsuccessful in his attempt at a bond issue, but he attracted the interest of the Republican Party that encouraged him to run for Town Clerk. He won the election for Clerk in 1928. That year Lee also decided to strike out on his own, starting a Pontiac dealership in Rush which he ran until the late 1950's.
Lee's success in local business lead to success in his political career. In 1936 he became Town of Rush Supervisor. Things had changed in the country.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA), established in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, was designed to alleviate unemployment during the Great Depression. One of the WPA's most significant contributions was its employment of trades workers in construction projects across the United States.
The WPA was contacted and Rush was made an offer. If the Town bought the materials, the WPA would provide the plans and labor to build the Rush Town Hall for free. The materials were projected to cost about $10,000 and the labor was worth about $50,000. In March of 1935 Town had a vote. The Town would need a bond to pay for its contribution. The result of the vote was 160 for and 40 against.
At the Ceremony for the Laying of the Cornerstone for the new Rush Town Hall in September of 1935, Lee's role in politics is foreshadowed in pictures.
Lee isn't the guy on the stage giving the speech. He's the guy on the ground with his hands in his pockets, making sure that the other Politicians are working together and being successful.
Lee's not the guy with the trowel laying the mortar for the cornerstone. He's not the guy with the level to make sure its' plumb. He's not the guy mugging for the camera. He's there to make sure it all goes well. He is performing exactly the role he was to play for the rest of his political career. He's the guy you don't know that got the best from others so they would do great things.
Lee Wiles became Rush Town Supervisor in 1936. That September, he inspected and "took delivery" on the new Rush Town Hall. His success in getting the Town Hall built lead to even greater things for himself.
Lee resigned as Rush Town Supervisor in 1938 after only two years and became the Clerk to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors. Now he had a position where he could do even more to help other politicians do their best.
In 1941 he worked to bring Highway Supervisors from around the State to Rochester for a convention where they could meet national experts on road building and maintenance. Heavy equipment manufacturers displayed the latest in road machinery. Monroe County roads improved.
In 1947 the Monroe County Airport underwent significant administrative changes when Monroe County formally assumed operational control of the airfield from the City of Rochester. Lee was involved in the behind the scenes to get all the City and County government officials to work together. A new terminal was built in 1953.
All this time Lee remained the head of the Republican Party in Rush. Lee helped Rush politicians "behind the scenes" to establish the first water district in the town. Lee was also instrumental on creating the zoning laws for Rush that are still in effect today.
Lee's last success was becoming Monroe County Clerk in 1957. He only held the post until the end of 1960 when he retired. In his resignation letter he said:
Some of us who are older should step aside and make places for the younger people where they can most effectively work with you.
Seems that at the time there was a "youth movement" in Government where older leaders were actually stepping down around Rochester so younger people could take charge.
Lee sold his house and the Pontiac dealership. He bought a house on Rush Mendon Road and became a "snowbird", living in Florida during the winters and coming back to Rush when it was warm.
Lee remained active in the community. He was a member of the Stephens - Connor American Legion Post and he continued to provide consul to Rush Republicans for awhile. He finally moved to Florida permanently and passed away there in 1978 at age 81.
When Lee became County Clerk in 1957, an Editorial ran in the Democrat and Chronicle where they quoted him. He spoke the common sense of a good automobile salesman when it came to change:
It is quite a jump from a Model T Ford to a 1958 model, and that is about the jump, in some instances, that you will have to make [sometimes]. After you have made it, I think you will enjoy the experience, and your passengers, the general public, with but few exceptions will enjoy it with you.
We can only hope for another pragmatic politician like James Lee Wiles.
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