Peter S. Miles (1835-1928)

MILES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/18/2024 at 21:25:04

Peter Shafer Miles
(June 7, 1835 – October 3, 1928)

Peter Shaffer Miles was born on June 7, 1835 in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana, the second of ten children born to James and Eleanor Miles. As a young man he worked at a carpenter’s trade. Peter moved to Cass County, Michigan after 1860 where he farmed and married Jemima A. Smith on Sep. 1, 1861. Peter and Jemima had seven children, the oldest sons, James H. (1862), and Charles C. (1864) were born in Cass County, Michigan. The little family moved to Calhoun County, Iowa in 1864 where five more children were born: Sarah Ella (1866), Chrysanthemum (1867), Alice (1869), Harland (1872), and Nola (1875). Sadly both daughters, Alice and Nola, only lived a few days and were buried in Lake City Cemetery. After 1880 the family moved from a farm into the town of Lake City where Peter was a trustee and school director. In 1885 Peter became the town Marshall, serving from 1885 to 1892. In April 1892 he became the town’s Night Watchman, during which time “Lake City had very few robberies owing to his vigilance.”
Peter’s daughter, Chrysanthemum, was married in 1890 to Hamilton V. Brady, and his daughter, Sarah Ella, was married in 1892 to George G. McNeil. Peter’s wife, Jemima, died on her birthday, Sep. 11th, at age 58 in 1893 and was put to rest in Lake City Cemetery. Peter continued to live in Lake City the rest of his life. His son, James H., never married but lived with his father until he died in 1915, age 52.
Peter’s son, Charley C., married Kate Haverfield in 1895, and his son, Harley L., married Nellie Kennedy in 1897.
In 1899 Peter married Martha M. Washburn, born in Muscatine County, Iowa in 1851. Peter always enjoyed having family living with him, including nieces. In 1895 and 1900 his nieces, Flora and Alice, children of his brother, Thomas L. Miles (who had died in 1882), were living with him. People in town called them “Aunt Martha” and “Uncle Pete.” Peter’s second wife, Martha, died on Aug 4, 1915 and was also buried in Lake City Cemetery. In 1920 Peter’s son, Charley, and his family of five children lived with him. At age 89 in 1925 Peter lived as a roomer with the family of W. C. Gunther in Lake City. Peter died at age 93 on Oct. 3, 1928 in Lake City and was buried with his wives in Lake City Cemetery.
[written by Karon S. Velau]

Sources (among others):
(1). 1850 & 1860 Federal Census, Cass County, Indiana, Peter S. Miles in the household of James Miles
(2). 1861 Marriage record of Peter S. Miles to Jemima A. Smith, Cass County, Michigan, Sep 1, 1861
(3). 1869 Gravestone of Alice Miles, Lake City Cemetery, inscribed daughter of P.S. & Jemima Miles
(4). 1870 & 1880 Federal Census, Jackson Twp., Calhoun County, Iowa, family of Peter S. Miles
(5). 1875 Gravestone of Nola Miles, Lake City Cemetery, inscribed daughter of P. S. & Jemima Miles
(6). 1885 Iowa Census, Lake City, Calhoun County, family of Peter S. Miles
(7). 1890 marriage of daughter, Chrysanthem Miles t0 Hamilton Brady in Lake City, IA
(8). 1892 marriage of daughter, Ella Miles to Geo. G. McNeil in Lake City, IA
(9). 1893 gravestone of wife, inscribed Jemima A., wife of P.S. Miles, Sep. 11, 1835 – Sep. 11, 1893, Lake City Cemetery, Lake City, IA
(10). 1895 Iowa Census, Lake City, IA, family of Peter S. Miles
(11). 1895 marriage of son, Chas. C. Miles to Kate Haverfield, Calhoun County, IA
(12). 1899 Marriage of Peter Miles to Martha Washburn, Lake City, IA, Aug 28th, 1899, Lake City
(13). 1900 & 1910 Federal Census, Lake City, Iowa, family of Peter S. Miles
(14). 1915 Iowa Census, card of Peter S. Miles, Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa
(15). 1915 Death certificate of son, James Henry Miles, listing father, Peter S. Miles
(16). 1920 Federal Census, Lake City, Iowa, family of Peter S. Miles
(17). 1925 Iowa Census, Lake City, Iowa, Peter S. Miles, roomer in household of W. C. Gunther
(18). 1928 Iowa Death Record for Peter S. Miles, died Oct 3, 1928, informant, Crysanthemum Brady, burial in Lake City Cemetery, Lake City, Iowa
(19). 1928 Grave memorial for Peter S. Miles in Lake City Cemetery, Lake City, Iowa
(20). 1934 Old Age Tax Assistance record for Chrysanthamum Brady, listing her father, Peter S. Miles