Miles, James A., 1880-1941

MILES, TIPTON, QUEEN, GREEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2022 at 11:47:59

From the Sioux County Capital, February 20, 1941:

Dies From Crash Injuries

Mr. J. Miles of Granville died in a local hospital Thursday as a result of injuries received in a collision Feb. 8 north and west of Granville. Mr. Miles, a railroad employee, was struck by a truck driven by John De Vries. The elderly man received internal injuries and a crushed leg when his handcar met the truck at a crossing. Several blood transfusions were given in an attempt to save his life.

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From the Alton Democrat, February 21, 1941:

Accident Victim Succumbs at O. C.

J. A. Miles passed on at an Orange City hospital Thursday, Feb. 13 from injuries received when the section car on which he was riding with his son, was struck the preceding Saturday morning by a gravel truck. Funeral services were held Saturday at the Presbyterian church in Paullina, which had been Mr. Miles home for 22 years. He was section foreman for the C. & N.W. Ry. and had been in railroad work most of his life.

He was born 60 years ago at Gentry, Mo. He married Miss Nellie Tipton of Whiting, and is survived by his wife and three children: L. E. of Paullina, who was severely injured in the same accident; Maurice of Alton and Mrs. Elmer Rohwer of Westbrook, Minn.

Four hours before the accident which resulted in Mr. Miles death, his foster mother, Mrs. Corbett of Stansburg, Mo., had passed on. Mrs. Miles received a message telling of the mother’s death just after her husband had left for his work, so he was unaware of it and after the accident was not told of his mother’s passing on account of his critical condition.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant Mrs. J. A. Miles) has James A. Miles, born July 9, 1880 in Gentry County, Missouri; parents James M. Miles, born in Kentucky, and Mary Ellen Queen[?], born in Missouri; wife Nellie Miles; occupation, section foreman on N.W. RR; resident of Paullina 23 years; died in the De Bey Hospital, Orange City, at 2:15 p.m. February 13, 1941; cause, gas infection, duration 4 days, due to crushed foot; the result of an accident on February 8 at a railroad crossing near Granville, collision of truck and gas car, crushed foot and leg injury; buried in Prairie View Cemetery, Paullina.

His FindaGrave.com page gives his full name as James Andrew Miles and his birth date as 7 July 1880; parents James Maurice Miles (1841-1913) and Mary Ellen Queen Miles (1847-1924); 6 siblings listed; wife Nellie Tipton Miles (1886-1947, married 1903); 3 children listed: Leslie Edward Miles (1904-1965), Maurice Miles (1911-2002), Neva F. Miles Rohwer (1914-1981). There is a photo of the joint headstone of James A. and Nellie.

The Monona County (Iowa) marriage register for 1903 has James Andrew Miles, age 23, resident of Lincoln Township, a farmer, born in Harrison County, Missouri, parents W. J. Miles and Mary Green[?]; bride Nellie Tipton, age 18, resident of Lincoln Township, born in Monona County, parents Wm. J.[?] Tipton and Sophia E. Fletcher; married in Lincoln Township, Monona County, July 19, 1903.

His World War I draft registration card (Sept. 1918, age 38) gives his full name, birth date of July 9, 1880, resident of Peterson, Clay County, Iowa, occupation section foreman, C.N.W. Ry; medium height and build, blue eyes, brown hair.