Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 302
JUDGE DANIEL S. BILES, ex-Police Magistrate of Muscatine, Iowa, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., Aug.3, 1820, and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca ( Mount ) Biles, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Trenton, N.J. Their marriage was celebrated in New Jersey, after which they became residents of Pennsylvania, remaining in that State until 1852, when they emigrated to the Mississippi Valley, locating in Muscatine County, Iowa. Mr. Biles was an educated, intelligent gentleman, and was admitted to the bar at Reading, Pa., and for many years was Prosecuting Attorney for Berks County, Pa., and was appointed Justice of the Peace of that county by Gov. Shultz, and held that position several years. He never practiced law in Iowa. After coming to this county he taught school for several years. His family numbered seven children, four of whom are yet living: Alex, who resides in Portsmouth, Ohio; Joseph, of Muscatine; Daniel, of this sketch; and Sarah E., who became the wife of T.B.Dobbs, who died in 1877; the widow now resides in Muscatine, and is the mother of three children : Mary, Rebecca and John. The father died in Muscatine in 1857, and being a prominent member of the Masonic order was buried by that fraternity. The mother survived her husband seventeen years, dying in 1874. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an Elder at Womelsdorf for many years, and none were more highly esteemed in the community where they resided.

Our subject was reared in his native State and came to Muscatine County in 1855. He received a liberal academic education in Berks County, Pa., and after coming to Muscatine purchased the Iowa Democratic Enquirer, which he published for six years, when he sold out to J. Trainor King. In 1861 he was elected Township Clerk, serving a term of two years, and was afterward elected Justice of the Peace and served two years, and in 1883 was elected Police Judge and City Recorder, filling that position until March, 1888.

In 1850 Judge Biles was united in marriage with Miss Isabella Hill, their union being celebrated in Center County, Pa., in which county she was born. Six children graced their union, four of whom are yet living: Mary, wife John K. Miller, of Muscatine County; Lillie, wife of Rev. L. L. Cloyd, of Missouri, but now a resident of West Superior, Wis.; Nellie, who is at home; and John E., ticket agent at Nora Junction. The death of Mrs. Biles, who was a sincere Christian lady and a member of the Presbyterian Church, occurred in Muscatine in December, 1879. Politically, Mr. Biles is a Jackson Democrat, and has always affiliated with that party. Possessed of good business ability, and strictly honorable in all his dealings, he is highly respected throughout Muscatine County, where he has resided so many years.

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