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BIOGRAPHIES
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ALFRED
BILES, who is at present time holding the responsible position of
county treasurer of Pepin county, has also served in other important
offices, and is also proprietor of an excellent farm of 280 acres in
Frankfort township, Pepin county. He was born in this township, Dec.
23, 1871, son of Thomas and Olivia (Sproul) Biles, his parents being
pioneer settlers in this locality. In his boyhood he attended school
in this township and was trained to agricultural pursuits on the home farm.
At the age of 23 years he began farming for himself, buying 40 acres in
section 8, and since then he has added to his landed property until he now
owns 280 acres of fertile land, his place being well equipped with large and
substantial buildings and up-to-date machinery. As a general farmer
Mr. Biles is meeting with great success and reaping good financial
returns on his investment. His principal stock consists of Durham
cattle, Poland-China hogs and Oxford sheep, while both for his stock and
crops he finds a quick and profitable market. As a good citizen,
interested in local enterprises he is a shareholder in the Farmers'
Telephone Company. In politics a Republican, he has for a number of
years taken an active part in the affairs of local government. His
public service includes several years on the town board of Frankfort
township, four years as clerk of the circuit court, and his present
incumbency of the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected in
November, 1916. As a public official Mr. Biles has proved his
efficiency and trustworthiness, giving to his public duties that close
attention and conscientious effort that have proved potent factors in his
successful career as an agriculturist, and has won the approval and
commendation of his fellow citizens. Mr. Biles was married Apr.
5, 1904, to Mary Olson, who was born in Frankfort township, Feb. 8,
1874, daughter of Andrew and Carrie (Anderson) Olson. Her
mother, born in 1837, died in 1915, their lives being thus almost of equal
length. Mrs. Biles acquired her elementary education in
Frankfort township, and later attended the River Falls Normal School, from
which she was graduated in 1900. She subsequently taught school for a
number of years in Dunn, Pierce and Pepin counties, after which she served
four years as superintendent of schools for Pepin county, making a very
creditable record for efficiency. Mr. and Mrs. Biles are the
parents of one child, Sehrman who was born Dec. 25, 1904. They
occupy a high place in the social life of the community in which they live.
Mr. Biles is fraternally affiliated with the camp of Modern Woodmen
at Frankfort and his wife with the lodge of Royal Neighbors.
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Vol. II -
Illustrated - Publ. by H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co. - 1919 - Page 714 |
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THOMAS
BILES, one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Pepin township, Pepin
county, was born at Mechanicstown, Carroll county, Ohio, May 9, 1828.
His father, Ninyon Biles, was a native of Germany, and his
mother, Maria (Peckham) Biles, was of Scotch descent. Thomas
was one of a family of ten children, and when thirteen years of age
accompanied his parents to Lee county, Iowa. At eighteen he left home
and came to Wisconsin, where he worked in the pineries. In 1848 he
began working on a farm in Pepin township, Pepin county, and was thus
occupied for several years, during which time he turned up with his plow
tools and bars of metal which had probably been used by a gang of
counterfeiters who operated in this section at an early day; hence the name
of this stream, Bogus Creek. In 1862 Mr. Biles removed
to Pierce county, Wisconsin, and thence, in 1867, to Fremont county, Iowa.
In 1871 he returned to Wisconsin and settled on a homestead on Porcupine
Creek, Frankfort township, Pepin county. The valley was then so
overgrown with shrubbery that he was obliged to follow a deer path on his
hands and knees for some distance. In time he developed a well
improved farm of 160 acres, where he gave his time to grain and stock
raising, taking little active part in public
affairs. He died Apr. 10, 1911, aged 82 years, 11 months and one day.
Mr. Biles was married Nov. 11, 1857, to Olivia
Sproul, who was born Aug. 13, 1833, and died Feb. 26, 1915, having
survived him less than four years. They were the parents of 11
children, of whom seven are now living, the complete record being as
follows: Sarah J., born Sept. 22, 1858, who married L. J. Kinney;
George R., born Apr. 6, 1860, who is a merchant at Porcupine, Pepin
county, Wisconsin; Margaret, born Apr. 29, 1862, who married J. F.
Warren, of Montana; Mary Ann, born Apr. 8, 1864, who died
Mar. 20, 1865; Walter, born April 28, 1865, who is a merchant at
Durand; John T., born Feb. 17, 1867, who died Mar. 14, 1867; Homer,
born Mar. 7, 1868, who died Aug. 30, 1868; Albert, born Apr. 10,
1870, who died Oct. 7, 1870; Alfred, born Dec. 23, 1871, who is a
prosperous general farmer in Frankfort township, Pepin county; Francis,
born Dec. 7, 1876, who resides in Durand, and Lottie, born Sept. 20,
1879, who is now Mrs. W. H. Shaw, of Arkansaw, Pepin county.
Source: History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin, Vol. II -
Illustrated - Publ. by H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co. - 1919 - Page 713 |
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THOMAS
BILES, farmer, P. O. Porcupine, Pepin county, was born at
Mechanicstown, Carroll county, Ohio, May 9, 1828. His father,
Ninyon Biles was a native of Germany, and his mother, Maria (Peckham)
Biles, was of Scotch descent. Their children were Henry,
Ellen (Mrs. P. Meaks), John, Rebecca (Mrs. T.
Townsend), Rhoda (Mrs. V. Page), Charles, Thomas,
William, Sarah J. and Mary. When our subject was
thirteen years of age his parents moved to Lee county, Iowa. At
eighteen he left home and came to Wisconsin, where he worked in the pineries.
In 1848 he began working on a farm on Bogus creek, in Pepin township, Pepin
county, and continued to work there for several years, during which time he
turned up with his plow tools and bars of metal which had probably been used
by a gang of counterfeiters who operated in that section in an early day;
hence the name of this stream. In 1862 Mr. Biles removed
to Pierce county, Wis., and thence, in 1867, to Fremont county, Iowa.
In 1871 he returned to Wisconsin and settled on the present homestead on
Porcupine creek, Frankfort township, Pepin county. When Mr.
Biles first visited this valley it was so overgrown with shrubbery that
he was obliged to follow a deer path on his hands and knees for some
distance. He now owns a well improved farm of 160 acres, which is
devoted to grain and stock raising. He leads a quiet life, and takes
but little interest in religion or politics. Nov. 11, 1857, he married
Miss Olivia Sproul, and they have seven children:
Sarah J. (Mrs. Kinney), George R., Maggie (Mrs.
J. Warren), Walter, Alfred, Francis and Lottie.
Source: Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley,
Wisconsin - Illustrated - Publ. 1891-2 - Page 773 |
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NOTES: Fannie Holden md. W. H.
Biles
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