William R. Miles^1,2,3 (M)
b. 22 November 1835, d. 26 May 1909
Pedigree
Family_Line=L

     William R. Miles was born on 22 November 1835, son of John H. Miles and Abigail Porter. At birth he was called William Miles. The birthday he had always carried was 28 November until seeing the Miles family bible when he was 71 years old.⁶ William was mustered into Union Army Company C of the 72nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment (the 'Chicago Board of Trade Regiment') as a Corporal. On 21 August 1862 at Chicago, Illinois. The Illinois Muster Roll shows him at induction as 27 years old, 5' 9" tall, single, occupation - carpenter, nativity - Norwich Vermont, enrolled for three years, paid a bounty of $25. Commander of Company C was Henry J. Gleason. The Regiment immediately moved to Cairo, Illinois, 350 miles to the south, on the Mississippi River. The moved to Paducah, Kentucky on 6 September and then to Columbus, Kentucky until 21 November. Generally, the 72nd was attached to the Seventeenth Army Corps, First Division, First Brigade. The First Brigade was commanded by Colonel Frederick A. Starring, while the 72nd was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stockton.^7,8,9 He was treated for Rubeola for ten days on 11 October 1862.¹⁰ He was treated for rubeola and then returned to duty from 11 October 1862 to 20 October 1862.¹¹ He left in a hospital for unknown cause on 20 November 1862 at Columbus, Kentucky. This hospital stay lasted for six weeks.¹⁰ He was left in a convealescent camp on 24 April 1863 at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana. Milliken's Bend is just north of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He returned to duty in May 1863 in time to participate in the seige of Vicksburg.^10,12 The Illinois 72nd Regiment, with William Miles, participated in the seige of Vicksburg from 18 May until 4 July 1863 when Vicksburg surrendered to the Union troops. The 72nd suffered loss of 2 officers and 20 enlisted killed in the seige. A total of 70 were severely wounded.^13,14 From 12 July until 17 October 1863 the 72nd was stationed in Natchez, Mississippi.¹³ He went on furlough for a week on 24 August 1863.¹⁵ William was with the 72nd was stationed from 17 October 1863 to 30 October 1864 at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Regiment was on "Provost Duty". Provost Duty could be compared to a police force used to maintain order. During that year in Vicksburg, the 72nd participated in a number of expeditions and excursions in the area.¹³ He alleges first appearance of disability at the Battle of Franklin in Tennessee on 28 November 1863. This disability continued to grow worse as he got older.¹⁶ The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee took place on 30 November 1864. The Union troops inflicted a major blow to the Confederate Army and then retreated to Nashville.¹³ He alleges he incurred rheumatism in December 1864 at Nashville, Tennessee.¹⁷ The 72nd moved among various Southern cities from December 1864 through July 1865. This included New Orleans in February; Montgomery, Alabama in April; Mobile, Alabama in April-May; Union Springs, Alabama in May thru July.¹³ William was promoted to Sergeant in Company C on 20 February 1865 at Vicksburg, Mississippi.^7,18 William was and the 72nd moved to on 19 July 1865 at Vicksburg. Miles was mustered out of Company C of the 72nd Infantry Regiment of Illinois Volunteers on 7 August 1865 by reason of War Department General Order 94 of 15 May 1865. He was due $75 in pay and owed the Army $6 for his musket and $.74 for tobacco.^7,19,20 History shows that Illinois furnished 259,092 troops during the Civil War. These were: 255,057 White, 2,224 Sailors and Marines and 1,811 Colored Troops. Only New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania furnished more. Total Illinois deaths from all causes were 34,834. Of these; 544 officers and 9,201 men were killed in action or died of wounds received in action. Over 21,000 officers and men died of disease. For the Illinois 72nd Infantry: 7 officers and 79 men were killed in action or died of wounds received in action.²¹

William married Maria Dana, daughter of George W. Dana and Annis Dana, on 28 November 1866 at Racine, Wisconsin. Wedding attendees included Reverend A. Constatine Barry, George M. Dana and Annis Dana.^22,23,24 He and Maria Miles lived at Evanston, Illinois from 1866 to 1873.¹⁶

William R. Miles is shown as head of household on the US census of 8 June 1870 at Evanston as William Miles. Listed as 34 years old, born in New York. Occupation is carpenter. Value of his real estate is $3,000 and his personal property is $1,000. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Edwin J. Miles, Charles E. Miles and Maria Dana.²⁵
He and Maria Dana lived at Sacramento, California 1873.¹⁶ He and Maria Dana lived at Racine 1874.¹⁶ He was granted a land patent for 160 acres on 10 August 1875 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eau Claire is in the western part of Wisconsin.²⁶ He and Maria Miles lived at Sacramento from 1876 to 1877.²⁷ During the year 1878, he travelled to Racine, Wisconsin temporarily and then across Lake Michigan to Northport, Michigan and then returned to Sacramento.¹⁶ He was a carpenter circa 1880 at Sacramento.²⁸

William R. Miles is shown as head of household on the US census of 1 June 1880 at Sacramento as William Miles. Listed as occupation 'carpenter', 44 years old born in Vermont. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Ernest Albert Miles, Maria Dana, Edwin J. Miles, Harry Abel Miles and Robert William Miles.²⁹
He filed for an Invalid Pension from Civil War service due to exposure in Nashville, Tennessee in December 1864 to cold rain and snow from which he contracted chronic rheumatism and other ailments from which "his health is forever gone" on 17 August 1880 at Sacramento.²⁸ He was said to have contracted 'chronic rheumatism while serving in the army in Tennessee in 1864 and continues to suffer intervals ever since to such a degree as to incapacitate him from work ...appearance is not healthy... and Miles considers all treatment of no avail' on 18 August 1880 at Sacramento. This the Physician's Affidavit of Thornton A. Snider, MD a practioner of 25 years.³⁰ He filed application 409467 for an invalid pension alleging rheumatism on 25 August 1880. The application was eventually rejected.²⁷ The Pension Office of the Department of the Interior wrote a letter 29 January 1881 requesting much data to support Miles' pension claim.³¹ He was provided, by the Dept of Interior, a listing of history necessary to a pension claim on 29 January 1881.³² He submitted an extensive description of his movements around the country and his illness in connection with his pension claim no. 409467 on 18 March 1881 at Sacramento. He claimed the first appearance of his disability was at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee in 1863 and now grows worse as he grows older. He is not able to do any work for a living. After his military discharge, he had doctor treatments that did not help and he is now not able to do any manual labor.³³ He was declared to be 'totally incapacitated from chronic rheumatism' which disability was rated at a total of $8 per month on 7 November 1881 at Sacramento. This evaluation was made by Examining Surgeon Ira E. Oatman, MD.³⁴ On 29 August 1882, the Pension Office of the Department of the Interior requested a report of hospital treatment for chronic rheumatism for Miles.³⁵ He was a carpenter in 1886 at Santa Barbara, California.³⁶ He and Maria Miles lived at Milpas between Figueroa & Carrillo Streets, Santa Barbara, California 1886. Maria was not listed since the directories were for adult males only.³⁶ Jerry S. Gatchell sold land described as the Western half of the Northwest quarter of Section 11 in Township 4 North of Range 26 West of the San Bernadino Meridian together with all improvements at Montecito Valley, California, to William R. Miles on 18 May 1886. Sale price was $50.00.³⁷ He paid $8 for the entry of his homestead claim by Homestead Application No. 2852 on 26 June 1886 at Receiver's Office, Los Angeles, California.³⁸ He submitted Homestead Application No. 2852 to homestead land in Santa Barbara on 17 July 1886 at Office of the Clerk of the Court, California. The land is described as the Western half of the Northwest quarter of Section 11 in Township 4 North of Range 26 West of the San Bernadino Meridian containing eighty (80) acres. The NorthWest corner of his land is at 34deg 27min 1.18sec North Latitude and 119deg 33min 30.45sec East Longitude. From that point, his land rectangle extends 1,320 feet to the East and 2,640 feet to the South. The land slopes down towards the ocean from north (at 1100feet altitude) to south (at 700feet).

At the same time he submitted an affidavit that application is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation for his exclusive benefit and that he now resides on that land and that he has made a "bona fide" improvement and settlement thereon. Said settlement was made on or before 1 January 1886. His improvements consist of a furnished house of 8' by 10' and one quarter mile of wire fence and about one acre cleared. Due to 'press of business' he could not appear at the District Land Office in Los Angeles.^39,40,41 He submitted a "Non-Mineral Affidavit" regarding his application for land homestead title on 17 July 1886 at California. He testified that there is not, to his knowledge, any vein of quartz, or other rock bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, or copper or any deposit of coal or other valuable mineral deposit on his claimed land.⁴² Miles original invalid claim was rejected on 26 July 1888 on the grounds of failure to provide necessary evidence.⁴³ On 12 Ocober, 1888 an Affidavit of Publication was sworn to by Felix Lane to the effect that William's homestead claim was published in the Santa Barbara Herald for six successive weeks from 23 August to 11 October 1888.⁴⁴ He submitted his final affidavit of proof for his homestead claim on 12 October 1888 at California. He swore that he is a citizen of the United States, has made actual settlement and cultivated the land and resided there since 18 May 1886.⁴⁵ He and witnesses Robert Bell and William P. Poole testified on 12 October 1888 at R.M. Dillard, Judge of the Superior Court, California. The witnesses supported the testimony of William who, in summary, testified as follows:
a) He has left an unoccupied house and lot in Santa Barbara City.
b) The land being claimed is hilly and rocky, mostly suitable for vineyards and olives.
c) It is not timber land.
d) He first made settlement on 18 May 1886, built a house and cleared some land and made roads - improvements valued at $700 or $800. His settlement has been continuous since then.
e) The land was occupied by Mr Gatchell from whom he bought his improvements of a cabin and one acre of cleared land.
f) During 1886 he was away carpentering for two months while his family lived on the claim and he went home every Saturday. During 1987 he was away for three months in Santa Barbara where his wife needed medical assistance while a part of his family lived on the claim. In December he had to visit Los Angeles for 3 days concerning this claim.
g) He has a wife and six children.
h) He built his house in the summer of 1886 which is habitable in all seasons.
i) The house on the claim is 16' by 24', an addition of 10' by 24' and another addition of 9' by 24' built of redwood and pine with 2 outside doors and 8 windows with part shake and part shingle roof. He values the house at $800. He also has a barn of 16' by 26' valued at $150. He has a half mile of wire fencing worth $20 or $25 plus some fruit trees and grape vines.
j) He has one wagon, one plow, one harrow, shovels and forks.
k) He has 3 horses, 2 cows, 1 calf and 2 yearlings.
l) Within the house are 5 beds, bureaus, chairs and tables, cooking stove, and utensils.
m) He has raised crops for two seasons - potatoes, corn, barley for hay and garden vegetables.
n) This year he has 9 acres put in crops yeilding about $200 worth.
o) He pays taxes every year in Santa Barbara County.⁴⁶ He was required to resubmit a "Non-Mineral Affidavit" regarding his application for land homestead title on 12 October 1888 at United States Land Office, California. He testified again that there is not, to his knowledge, any vein of quartz, or other rock bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, or copper or any deposit of coal or other valuable mineral deposit on his claimed land.⁴⁷ He paid $3 for the balance of payment required for entry of his homestead claim on 21 November 1888 at Los Angeles. He was provided Final Certificate No. 1088 of the Los Angeles Land Office.³⁸ At age 54, William became the father of George Dana Miles on 28 March 1890 at Santa Barbara, California.^48,22,49 He filed another pension application # 235955 on 29 July 1890. He alleges chronic rheumatism, kidney disease, indigestion, malaria and chronic diarrhea.²⁷ Dept of the Interior, General Land Office, requested of the Adjutant General U.S. Army that they furnish an official statement of the service and discharge of William R. Miles 'during the late rebellion'.⁵⁰ William's Homestead Final Certificate No. 1088 was Patented on 5 December 1890.⁵¹ He was granted an Invalid Pension on 28 January 1892. He was rated at $12 per month from 29 July 1890 for malarial poisoning.²⁷ He and Maria Miles sold homestead acreage described as the West half of the NorthWest corner of Section 11 in Township 4North of Range 26West of the San Bernadino Meridian containing eighty acres at Montecito, California, on 28 April 1893. Conveyed their homestead acreage to Mary Williams Briggs of Massachsetts for $100 of gold coin. Also conveyed was a one third interest in a water claim just north of the foregoing property.⁵² He and Maria Miles lived at Milpas Street between Figueroa & Carrillo Streets, Santa Barbara, California 1896 with Ernest Albert Miles, Pearl Annie Miles, Maria Margarita Miles, George Dana Miles and Robert William Miles. The city directory lists him as an architect. The directory does not list woment or children so only the youngest are included here.⁵³ He and Maria Miles sold a lot in City Block 133 at Carrillo & Milpas Streets, Santa Barbara, California, to Harry Abel Miles on 1 April 1896. This could have been connected to his marriage to Luella.⁵⁴ He was building contractor circa 1900 at Santa Barbara.⁴

William R. Miles is shown as head of household on the US census of 12 June 1900 at 1045 Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, California, as William R. Miles. Listed as 64 years old, born in November, 1835, married for 33 years, born in Vermont as were his mother and father, can read write and speak English. Owner of his home with a mortgage. Working as a carpenter, but unemployed for the last 10 months. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Pearl Annie Miles, George Dana Miles, Maria Dana and Maria Margarita Miles.⁴⁹
He and Maria Miles took out a Deed of Trust (mortgage) on on 12 August 1902 at Santa Barbara. This was their property in Block 133 of Santa Barbara.⁵⁵ He and Maria Miles lived at Carrillo SW Corner Milpas, Santa Barbara 1904 with Maria Margarita Miles. Maria Margarita was listed as "Rita".⁵⁶ He and Edwin J. Miles were managing a general store dry goods and shoes business from 1904 to 1909 at American Bargain Company, 619 State Street, Santa Barbara. The 1908-9 City Directory lists the store as having moved to 618 State Street.^57,58,59,60 He constructed a toy bureau and chair for grandaughter Nell Miles circa 1905 at Santa Barbara. As a carpenter, William probably had no trouble producing such a good work.⁶¹ He and Maria Miles sold part of Block 133 at Santa Barbara to Martha L. Brant on 5 July 1905.⁶² He and Maria Miles paid off a Deed of Trust (mortgage) on on 15 July 1905 at Santa Barbara. This was their property in Block 133 of Santa Barbara.⁶³ George W. Miller and John A. Miller sold two lots in Block 21 at 225 & 227 West Pedregosa Street, Santa Barbara, California, to William R. Miles and Maria Miles on 14 April 1906. There were two mortgages involved totalling $2050.⁶⁴ He and Maria Miles lived at 227 West Pedregosa Street, Santa Barbara 1906 with George Dana Miles. Maria was not listed in the 1906 Directory.⁶⁵ He and Maria Miles sold part of city block 133 property at Milpas & Carillo Streets, Santa Barbara, California, to W. H. Stafford on 12 August 1906.⁶⁶ He appointed Patrick O'Farrell of Washington, D.C. to represent him in his pension claim on 13 August 1906.⁶⁷ He was was supported by fellow Civil War veteran George R. Chapel who submitted a sworn statement of Miles' disability acquired at Vicksburg, Mississippi in June 1864 (chronic diarrhea serious enough to consider service discharge). At Columbus, Kentucky, George took his duty place when Miles was placed on light duty by a doctor. On 28 January 1907 at 165 Ogden Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Chapel also stated that Miles went to California for 'benefit of his health'.⁶⁸ He was currently receiving $12 per month for his Invalid Pension under the Act of 27 June 1890 on 26 February 1907 at 227 West Pedregosa Street, Santa Barbara, California. He was now filing for an increase under a newly passed law. The new rate of $15 per month was approved in July 1907 retroactive to 6 March 1907.^69,70 He was awarded a raise in Civil War pension from $12 per month to $15 per month on 6 March 1907. This was done by authority of the Act of 6 February 1907 which required him to submit a new claim via his lawyer, Patrick O'Farrell of Washington, D.C..⁷¹ He was advised of the insufficiency of his alleged rheumatism suffering on 27 March 1907.⁷² On 3 July 1907, the Bureau of Pensions asked Miles to provide some proof of birth such as a baptismal record or family bible record.²⁷ He and Maria Dana lived at 225 West Pedregosa Street, Santa Barbara from 1908 to 1909 with George Dana Miles. Mariah was not listed in the 1908-9 Directory.⁷³ He sold two lots in Block 21 at Santa Barbara to Maria Miles on 24 May 1909. All property, personal and other, on the lots was also conveyed. This was a death-bed transfer. Conveyed to wife Maria and her heirs .⁷⁴ He died from seven weeks of typhoid fever and some pneumonia on 26 May 1909 at 225 West Pedregosa Street, Santa Barbara, California, at age 73. He was recorded as a retired building contractor born in Vermont.^75,76,77 He was buried on 28 May 1909 in the Santa Barbara Cemetery located in Santa Barbara, California.^4,78

Last Edited=8 Dec 2007