Jackson County IA Archives Military Records.....Miles, Forrest 1910
Civilwar Company A, 24th Iowa Infantry
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com July 8, 2010, 9:45 pm

Forrest Miles
History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910, J. W. Ellis 

FORREST M. MILES. 

Forrest M. Miles is known as one of the leading citizens of Miles, for he has 
manifested the same loyalty and interest in public affairs and in matters of 
citizenship that he displayed when he served as a soldier in the Union army on 
the battlefields of the south. He is now living retired but for a long period 
he was identified with the agricultural interests of Van Buren township and 
later was foremost in laying out the village of Miles and has always occupied 
an important position relative to its growth and prosperity. 
He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 14, 1840, his parents being Justin and 
Harriet (Rice) Miles, both natives of Vermont. The birth of the father occurred 
February 22, 1793, and the mother was born August 13, 1805. Justin Miles came 
from Ohio to Jackson county, Iowa, October 19, 1855, and bought a farm on the 
border of Van Buren township, where the town of Miles is now located, and for a 
long time his place was commonly called Miles Corners. There he engaged in 
farming with fair success and lived until his death, which occurred January 15, 
1870. He and his wife were the parents of six children, four sons and two 
daughters, as follows: Forrest M., the subject of this sketch; Justin W., a 
resident of Manchester, Delaware county, Iowa; Orson, of Stanwood. Cedar 
county, Iowa; H. A., of Miles; Sarah, who is the widow of John Deming, of 
Rhodes, Iowa; and Harriet, who is the wife of M. J. Rigby, of Mount Vernon, 
Iowa. 
Forrest M. Miles received his education in the public schools of Ohio, although 
he was only fifteen years of age when his parents established their home in 
Jackson county, Iowa, for after coming here he had to devote his time to the 
farm as his father had been injured and was unable to work. He was thus 
employed until the 11th of August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-
fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. During the period of his service he 
participated in many of the important battles of the Civil war, including the 
siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Champion's Hill, and was wounded at Cedar 
Creek, October 19, 1864. He was always at his post of duty and on the 14th of 
April, 1865, he received his honorable discharge from the army. Mr. Miles then 
returned to his home and as soon as his wound permitted assisted in operating 
the farm until his father died, when he assumed full charge of the place. He 
met with gratifying success in his undertakings, but in 1871, when the railroad 
was built through Jackson county, recognizing the large opportunities for a 
flourishing town, he laid out the village of Miles and divided his farm into 
lots. At one time he owned all the real estate of the town but has since 
disposed of the greater part of it and is living in comparative retirement. He 
still owns a farm in Van Buren township, which his son is operating, and the 
place in Miles where he lives, his house being situated on the same spot where 
his father had built his dwelling. The older building has been moved away. When 
the village grew and prospered and the needs of the citizens required a bank, 
Mr. Miles was instrumental in organizing the Miles Savings Bank, of which he 
was elected president on its incorporation. In this capacity he has continued 
to render effective service to the present, for his interest in the town did 
not cease with the platting of lots; on the contrary he has given patent 
evidence on many occasions that he is deeply concerned for its welfare and 
determined upon its progress. 
On the 23d of January, 1866, Mr. Miles wedded Miss Henrietta Graham, a daughter 
of Henry F. Graham, of Sterling, Iowa, and they have two children: Harry J., 
who is on the farm; and Forrest S., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in 
Alberta, Canada. 
Politically Mr. Miles has always been a stalwart champion of the republican 
party, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Grand Army of the Republic. In 
the last named he has been especially active and his zeal has been recognized 
by his fellow members, for he has been called upon to serve as commander of 
Schofield Post, No. 164. He has twice been commander of the Jackson Veterans 
Association, was appointed and commissioned as colonel on the staff of General 
William Nevius, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was 
made a member of the commission to select the national park at Vicksburg. 
Although he enjoyed but slight educational advantages he is a man of broad 
views and wide culture, for he has traveled extensively in the United States, 
Canada and Mexico, and association with him means expansion and elevation. He 
has endeavored earnestly to build up the town of Miles, and the results of his 
work will remain long after he has passed away. 



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