Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Niles, George 1833 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2007, 9:54 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

GEORGE NILES, a farmer of Burlington Township, Lapeer County, was born in
London, Canada, November 6, 1833, and is the eldest of three brothers and one
sister who is now the wife of Charles Wing, of Lapeer. These brothers and sister
are the children of Benjamin and Lurena (Perkins) Niles. The father was born in
Maine about the year 1790, and was one of a large family of brothers and
sisters. Our subject came to Michigan with his parents at the age of six years
and they located in Marathon Township, this county, where they lived for nine
years and afterward located in what is now called Mayfield.

  Our subject grew to maturity and married Matilda Grossbeck, by whom he had six
children, five of whom are still living: Lorena, wife of C. Cummings; Flora,
Mrs. Edward Southerland, of Oregon; George, who resides at home; Robert B., a
resident of Oregon; and Amanda M., now Mrs. Charles Mitchell.

  At the beginning of the Civil War the sympathies of Mr. Niles were with the
Government and the old flag, and it was ever a vital question with him whether
he should not help in its defense. He finally enlisted in August, 1862, in
Company K, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and being assigned to the Army of the West
he took part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Buzzards' Roost,
Atlanta, Dalton, Big Shanty and many others of minor importance. He served until
the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in 1865, at Nashville,
Tenn., and then came directly home with the assurance that he had been faithful
in the discharge of his patriotic duty.

  In February, 1866, Mr. Niles removed to his present home on eighty acres of
land situated on section 33, Burlington Township, which was at that time a dense
wilderness but to-day is all cleared and constitutes a beautiful farm, having
upon it good substantial buildings. The wife of his youth was called from his
side by death in March, 1877, and in 1879 Mr. Niles was united in marriage with
Mrs. Phoebe Allen, widow of Calvin Allen, and daughter of Caleb Purdy. One son
has blessed this union and he bears the name of Leonard.

  Both Mr. and Mrs. Niles are active and useful members of the Free Will Baptist
Church, in which they find a broad field for usefulness. In his social
associations with the men of his township he has identified himself with the
Masonic fraternity, and in his political views he is a stanch Republican.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/lapeer/bios/niles924gbs.txt

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