John G. Miles Biography


	This biography appears on pages 982-983 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN G. MILES. 

	John G. Miles, a cigar manufacturer of Brookings, was born in 
Howard county, Iowa, January 8, 1859, a son of John O. and Louise 
(Taft) Miles, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Wisconsin. 
The father went to Iowa about 1854, settling in one of the pioneer 
districts of the state, where he purchased government land at a dollar 
and a quarter per acre. With resolute energy he began converting the 
claim into a cultivable and valuable farm and thereon made his home 
until his death. His widow afterward took up her abode in Cresco, Iowa, 
where her remaining days were passed. 

	John G. Miles had good home training, with the benefits to be 
derived from public school education in Cresco, where he supplemented 
the work of the lower grades by a high school course. He came to South 
Dakota in 1881 and took up a preemption in Day county, which he proved 
up on. In the spring of 1883 he arrived in Brookings, where he entered 
the employ of B. J. Kelsey, a general merchant. In the fall of 1885 he 
established himself in the furniture and hardware business in 
Brookings, but sold out after five years and for some time thereafter 
gave his attention to the management of his landed properties. His 
fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, however, called 
him from private life to public office, electing him sheriff of 
Brookings county in 1906. He made such an excellent record during his 
first term that he was reelected and thus served for two terms When he 
retired from office he purchased his present cigar manufacturing 
business, which he has since conducted, his trade being largely 
confined to the eastern part of the state. He is also the owner of the 
speedy pacing horse Dad Mix, with which he has been winning many of the 
best purses at the various fairs throughout the middle west, the horse 
never receiving a lower mark than 2:121/4. He is very speedy and will 
undoubtedly later show among the fast representatives of the track. The 
landed possessions of Mr. Miles aggregate more than a thousand acres of 
farming property in Brookings county and in Minnesota. 

	In 1890 Mr. Miles was married to Miss Katie M. Hall, a daughter 
of A. M. Hall, a large landowner of Brookings county, who served for 
four years as county treasurer and otherwise was known as a valued 
citizen but is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miles became the parents of a 
son, Ball J. In his political views Mr. Miles has always been a 
stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of 
franchise. He has served as justice of the peace and as town clerk. He 
belongs to Brookings Lodge, No. 24, A. F. &; A. M.; Brookings Chapter, 
No. 18, R. A. M.; Brookings Commandery, K. T.; the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen at Elkton; and the Brookings Commercial Club. He 
advances steadily along the line which he has chosen as a life work, 
his close application and his judicious investments being salient 
features in his prosperous career.