For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 441
R. M. STILES....R. M. Stiles, who is one of the respected citizens of Atalissa, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1846, and son of Josiah and Beulah ( Albertson ) Stiles. The father and mother were also born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and lived there all their lives. There were nine children in the family : Almira, the wife of J. L. C. Klein, of Benton, Pennsylvania ; R. M., our subject ; R. B., a traveling salesman residing in Des Moines, Iowa ; J. W., a policeman of Des Moines ; Elizabeth, the widow of George Cole, of Benton, Pennsylvania ; Emma, the wife of George Keckler of Shamokin, Pennsylvania ; Robert, who died in infancy ; and Hiram, of Westport, Pennsylvania.R. M. Stiles received his education in a log schoolhouse in the Keystone state and grew up on the home farm. There he continued until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming for neighboring farmers. in 1870, being then twenty-four years of age, he decided to seek his fortune in the west and came to Muscatine county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Apalissa. He worked at the carpenter's trade in this town for twelve years and also did some contracting. He then located on a farm in Goshen township, this county, which he cultivated for twenty-six years with a diligence that yielded quite satisfactory returns. In 1908 he returned to Atalissa, where he now maintains a wagon-making and general repair shop. He is the owner of a fine business building in Atalissa, a commodious residence and a block of ground, being recognized as one of the prosperous citizens of the community.
In 1870 Mr. Stiles was united in marriage to Miss Alice Fullmer, a native of Pennsylvania, who was the only child of John W. Fullmer by his first wife, though he had five children by a later marriage, four of whom are still living. Mr. Fullmer was also born in the Keystone state. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stiles are : W. A., now living on a farm in Wapsinonoc township, near West Liberty, Iowa ; H. B., a farmer who lives near Atalissa ; Edna, who is at the head of the household affairs at home ; and Claude, in partnership with his father. The beloved mother of these children departed this life in 1907, and her remains were interred in the cemetery at West Liberty, Iowa.
Mr. Stiles is an adherent of the republican party and although he has not sought public office, has most acceptably filled the position of school director. He has been a resident of Muscatine county for forty years, during a large part of which time he was identified with farming interests. He has applied himself diligently and now enjoys the rewards of many years of conscientious labor. At the same time he possesses the respect of his neighbors and friends and today no man in the locality has in a higher degree the unreserved confidence of the commuity.
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