My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE M. STILES, M. D., gained prominence both in the line of his profession and as a public official of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and his labors were of a character that made him a representative and valued citizen. He was of English ancestry.

Levi Stiles (grandfather) was born in England, and came to America at an early age with his parents. The voyage was a long one, and several times the vessel went far out of its course and it was supposed that they would never reach harbor, but eventually anchor was dropped in American waters, and Levi Stiles landed in New York city. He was a brewer by occupation, and after reaching the new world he began the brewing business on a small scale in a town near the eastern metropolis. Subsequently he removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where he resided up to the time of his death, conducting a brewery in that city. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Hent.

Joseph H. Stiles (father), a son of Levi and Mary (Hent) Stiles, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1817, and died in 1881, at the age of sixty-four years. He pursued his education in the schools of his native city, and afterward learned the trade of shipwright. Eventually he became an extensive shoe merchant, conducting a wholesale business. His last days were spent in Burlington, New Jersey, where his death occurred. His wife, Elizabeth (Hankins) Stiles, a native of Virginia, who died August 2, 1902, bore him the following named children, all of whom are now deceased: William H.; Elmira, who became the wife of Benjamin H. Wiley; and George M., mentioned hereinafter.

Dr. Stiles was born in Burlington, New Jersey, February 14, 1844, and when a small lad went to his mother’s old home in Virginia, where he remained for some time, acquiring his primary education in the public schools. He afterward attended Pennington Seminary, and was there prepared for a collegiate course. He next entered Princeton University, from which famous institution he was graduated in the class of 1862, winning the Master’s degree. His professional training was received in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, which he entered in 1864, completing the course by graduation in 1866, at which time he won some of the honors of the class. In 1863 he was appointed by Governor Curtin as a staff physician in a Pennsylvania Regiment.

Dr. Stiles located for practice in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, where he followed his profession until July, 1868, when he came to Conshohocken, where he resided continuously up to the time of his death. He led a most active life both in connection with his profession, and by reason of his identification with interests connected with the development and progress of his town. He served for many years as resident physician at the hospital at Radnor, Pennsylvania, and was also a physician at the Blockley Hospital, in Philadelphia, for a number of years. He was a trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Norristown, Pennsylvania, for six years, and in addition to such duties he had a large private practice which was constantly making heavy demands upon his time and attention. He was always interested in everything tending to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life, and had carried his investigations far and wife into the realms of medical science. He served in the capacity of surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and for over nine years was a member of the board of prison inspectors of Montgomery county. He held membership in the American Medical Society, the Montgomery County Medical Society of which he was president, and the Alpha Mu Pi Omega medical fraternity of Philadelphia, of which he was also president. He was a gentleman of broad scholarly attainments, and was a member of the Society of Natural Sciences and the London Shakespeare Society, also of the Hudson Club and the Masonic lodge, having been a past master of the last named. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he was a recognized factor in community interests. For many years he was president of the school board, and was largely instrumental in advancing the schools of Conshohocken to their present high standard. He was identified with the Society of Friends, was prominent and public- spirited, and aided greatly in promoting the material development and the intellectual, social and moral welfare of his community.

In 1872 Dr. Stiles was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Huston, a representative of the old Huston family of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Their children were: Mary and Elsie, both deceased. The death of Dr. Stiles occurred June 9, 1904.