Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Jeremiah Miles
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JEREMIAH MILES. This substantial name is familiar to most of the older residents of Garfield Township, Clay County, within whose limits its owner first set foot in 1870, and his career has been such as to commend him to the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Born in Miami County, Ohio, May 13, 1820, he is thus approaching his threescore-and-ten years, and has made for himself a good record along the highway of life. Of southern antecedents, he is the son of David Miles, a native of South Carolina, who was born in 1795, and who emigrated to Miami County, Ohio, with his father, David, and his stepmother, Rebecca (Golden) Miles, in 1810. The first wife of David Miles died in South Carolina.
The paternal grandparents of our subject located amid the heavy timber of Miami County, Ohio, where the father hewed out a farm from the wilderness and where with his estimable wife he spent the remainder of his days. Our subject's grandfather went to South Carolina with his parents, William and Catherine Miles, the former of
whom was born in England and the latter in Switzerland. During the Revolutionary times their dwelling, with all its contents, was destroyed while the Whigs and Tories were on their plundering expeditions. The great-grandparents of our subject spent their last days in South Carolina. His grandparents and parents died in Ohio.
In Miami County. Ohio, on the 25th of August, 1841, Jeremiah Miles was first married to Miss Rebecca K., daughter of Samuel and Anna (Kelley) Miles, whose parents were both natives of South Carolina, and were among the earliest settlers of the Buckeye State. They lived in the latter many years, when the mother died and the father removed to the vicinity of Richmond, Ind., where he spent his last years. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Miles were William and Rachel (Elemore) Miles: they likewise were early settlers of Ohio, where they died. On the maternal side of the house her grandparents were Moses and Mary (Teague) Kelley. They lived in Ohio many years and Grandmother Kelley died there. Her husband later removed to Parke County, Ind., and settled among the earliest pioneers, there spending the remainder of his life.
Jeremiah Miles was a resident of his native State until 1854, being then a man of thirty-four years. Deciding now to cross the Mississippi, he located in Marshall County. Iowa, and thence in 1866 removed to Parke County. Ind. Two years later he returned to his native State, and from there, in 1870, came to Kansas and homesteaded 160 acres of his present farm. There was not a twig or a tree upon the place. Deer and antelopes were quite plentiful. He put up a sod house at a time when there were but two dwellings on the road between this point and Clay Center. The latter was then a very small village. he frequently walked there to obtain his provisions, carrying them home on his back. The little family occupied the sod house about two and one-half years and then moved into a better dwelling.
That tract of wild prairie land now bears little resemblance to its primitive condition. Modern buildings embellish it, and the land is all enclosed with good fencing of wire and hedge. There are forest and fruit trees and all other accessories of the modern farm. Mr. Miles has planted an orchard of about 500 trees and has probably 100 grape vines. Four acres are devoted to walnut timber, with some eottonwood and maple. Adjacent to the dwelling is the barn, stables, corn-cribs and granary.
Mr. Miles cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay, and is a stanch adherent of the principles of the Republican party. He has always been one of the representative men of his community and has occupied most of the local offices. He served as County Commissioner two years, was Assessor one year and has been a member of the School Board fourteen years. He and his family belong to the Friends Church in the faith of which his ancestors were reared as far back as is known. Mr. and Mrs. Miles became the parents of eight children, the eldest of whom, Anna J., died in 1862, when about twenty years old; Esther; Enos P. lives in Clay Center; Joseph J. lives at home; Elizabeth is the wife of Frederick Wickstrom, and they live in the State of Oregon; Samuel W. is also in that State; David and John (twins) died in infancy.