Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Hiles, Thomas 1827 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:42 am

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

THOMAS HILES. 

Northern Illinois has long been known as a land where fine crops are garnered 
and fertile fields abound. Among the very productive estates which are 
included within its borders may be mentioned that of Thomas Hiles, located on 
section 20, Wesley Township, along the banks of the Kankakee River. A vast 
amount of labor has been performed here in order to redeem this acreage from 
its condition as a part of the primeval forest, and prepare the soil to bring 
forth abundantly to the full extent of its capacity. Mr. Hiles is an 
Englishman, born in December, 1827, and as the son of a farmer had fewer 
privileges in the educational line than are afforded that class in free 
America. Although his schooling was quite limited and his book learning is 
therefore somewhat meagre, he possesses native intelligence and quickly 
comprehends all that is going on about him. At the age of twelve years he 
began working out for farmers, continuing to support himself in this manner 
until he had reached his majority. Having decided that in America he would 
find opportunities for advancement not afforded in his native land, he bade 
adieu to home and friends and crossed the broad Atlantic. Mr. Hiles landed at 
Philadelphia a friendless stranger, with about $50 as a capital with which to 
begin his labors. He came directly to Cook County, Ill., where for nine months 
he worked on a farm. In the spring of 1850 he came into Wesley Township, Will 
County, entered the employ of Elijah Freer for two years, and then purchased 
eighty acres of the land which he has brought to so excellent a condition. He 
had but few neighbors. He erected a frame house and began clearing the land, 
doing all the labor of felling trees, etc., himself. From time to time he 
added to his farm other timbered lands, which he cleared in succession until 
he now has two hundred and ten acres of improved land, about two hundred acres 
of which were cleared by himself. This is a record which has been made by few 
even of our most enterprising-farmers, and Mr. Hiles deserves great credit for 
that which he has accomplished in redeeming the fertile land to man's use. He 
is engaged in general farming, and successfully pursuing his vocation. Mr. 
Hiles and Miss Sarah Carpenter were joined in holy wedlock September 5, 1852, 
and lived happily together until February 24, 1880, when the wife was called 
hence. She was a daughter of Charles and Abigail (Milliman) Carpenter, natives 
of the Empire State, who removed to Illinois about the time of the Black Hawk 
War. The occupation of Mr. Carpenter was tilling the soil. He and his wife are 
now deceased. Mrs. Sarah Hiles was born January 17, 1835. She bore her husband 
six children, the record of the survivors being as follows: Mary, born January 
1, 1857, is the wife of Mike Miller, of Joliet, and the mother of six 
children; Fred M. was born October 21, 1867; Benjamin T. February 15, 1880. A 
second matrimonial alliance was contracted by Mr. Hiles February 1, 1881. His 
bride on this occasion was Miss Aseneth Hamblin, who was born May 29, 1832, in 
Onondaga County, N. Y. She received a good education in the district schools, 
and upon the foundation thus laid has reared a structure of wide knowledge 
through extensive reading and keen observation. She is an active worker in the 
Sunday-school, was constantly engaged as a teacher while in New York, and is a 
willing worker in the promulgation of every good cause. Her home is not 
neglected, but is conducted in such a way that the domestic machinery moves 
smoothly, and every comfort surrounds the members of the home circle. The 
parents of Mrs. Hiles were Abner I. and Electa (Nearing) Hamblin, natives of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. They became husband and wife in 
the Empire State, and there continued to reside until their death. Their home 
was in Madison County, where Mrs. Hamblin breathed her last August 6, 1863, 
and her husband March 15, 1875. Both were active participants in church work, 
and Mr. Hamblin was a farmer. Mrs. Hiles was the ninth of the eleven children 
born to them, of whom seven survive at this writing. Mr. Hiles has always 
taken an active interest in politics, and gives his vote to the Republican 
party. Before he left his native land he became a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, but has not been identified with lodges of that 
fraternity in America. He now holds the office of Township Trustee, in which 
he has served for fifteen years past, and is also a Director of the local 
School Board. He has served as Pathmaster. He and his wife belong to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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