Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 892
BENAIAH S. MILES

Benaiah S. MILES, a farmer living on section 14, Jackson Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1866, and first located on the farm now occupied by William Arthur. He moved into a small log house and rented land adjoining and remained eight months. He came to the country in company with his parents. About that time he bought the farm he now occupies, which consisted of one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, and upon it erected a small log house, which stood partly in the bank or hill side. Here he remained for four years, and then built a story and a half frame house, 22x30 feet, with a wing 14x20 feet. He also built a good barn, double cribs and granary, dug a well, and erected a wind mill. He also set out shade trees, and fenced this farm. He now has seventy acres under the plow, while the balance is in meadow and pasture land. He came to the county poor, and saw his share of hardships during the grasshopper days.

Our subject was born October 7, 1855, in Caledonia County, Vt. He is a son of Joseph G., and Nancy M. MILES, natives of the Green Mountain State, who had a family of five children: Benaiah S., deceased; Horatio, deceased; Anna M., Alanson E., deceased; Benaiah S., Jr.

Our subject remained in Vermont until he was ten years of age, when the family came to Harrison County. They came by way of a "prairie schooner" (covered wagon) from Chicago, and camped out by the way, in good old emigrant style.

Our subject was married in June, 1877, to Elizabeth GRIFFITH, the daughter of David and Nancy GRIFFITH, natives of Missouri, who had five children, our subject's wife being the youngest. Their names were as follows: Samantha, Melinda, Sarah, Alvira and Elizabeth.

For his second wife our subject married November 6, 1890, Myrtle LINDERMAN, the daughter of Theodore V. and Ellen LINDERMAN, natives of Ohio, who had a family of eleven children: Mary, Myrtle, William, Walter, Maude, Myra, Menona, deceased; Dora, deceased; Mary, Estella, and Thad, deceased.

Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children: Oliver W., Nellie, deceased; Minnie, Joseph and Katie.

Mr. MILES, politically, is not altogether in harmony with either of the two great political parties, but at the present time affiliates with the Farmers' Alliance element.

Return to 1891 Biographical M Surnames Index

Back to 1891 Biographies Index