My Genealogy Hound

James C. Miles, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Bedford County, Va., July 1, 1827. His father, Armstead I. Miles, was born in 1796, and was also a native of Virginia, and his mother, Elizabeth A. Arthur, was born May 27, 1800, in the same State. The family moved to Kentucky in 1829, locating in Pulaski County, residing there ten years. In 1839 they came to Missouri, and settled in Macon County. Armstead I. resided there until his death, which occurred at the residence of his son in 1879. James C. was eleven years of age when he came to the State with his parents, and spent his youth in Macon County. In 1851 he bought the land upon which he now lives, which was then in a raw condition, and proceeded to improve it. At first he purchased 240 acres, 160 acres in prairie land and the rest well timbered. The place is quarter of a mile from the Macon line and six miles from LaPlata. Mr. Miles was united in marriage in Knox County, September 2, 1852, to Miss Ruth E. Shelton, a daughter of Medley Shelton, one of the early settlers of Knox County. Mrs. Miles was born in Carroll County, Ky., but spent her early life in Knox County. This wife died July 13, 1872. There were ten children by this marriage: Mary (wife of James Lee, of Macon County), Maxey B. (wife of Samuel Clemison, of Adair), Medley (of Adair County), Francis M., Priscilla (wife of S. B. Barr) and Ruth E. (a young lady). Four children were lost in infancy and early childhood. January 15, 1874, he married Mary N. Bunch, of Macon County, a daughter of John Bunch. Mrs. Miles spent her life previous to her marriage in Macon County, and both she and her husband are members of the Old School Baptist Church. Mr. Miles was one of the world-renowned “forty-niners,” making an overland trip to California in company with Stephen Wilson and many others. He went to that State with an ox team, and while there, engaged in mining and teaming, and was very successful. At the end of eleven months he left the land of gold and returned home by way of Old Mexico, across the gulf to New Orleans, thence to St. Louis and home.