My Genealogy Hound

James M. Skiles, a well-known business man of Trenton, Tenn., was born in Gibson County, on the 9th of March, 1851, son of William Graham and Mary (Brown) Skiles, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Gibson County, Tenn. The father was a farmer, and died in 1880. The mother died in 1855. James M. was reared to manhood on a farm and secured a limited education in his boyhood days. In 1871 he began farming for himself on a part of the homestead place which he owned, and in 1876 discovered a superior vein of mineral or chalybeate water on the place and proceeded to have the waters analyzed. He soon after opened the wells to the public, under the name of the Skiles Wells, and conducted it as a watering-place for four seasons very successfully. He then moved to Trenton and engaged in the grocery business, and is now a prosperous business man of the town. He has engaged rather extensively in the retail liquor business in the last two years, owning and operating two strictly first-class houses, besides his grocery. In 1869 he married Martha Fairless, of Gibson County. They have one child, James Ivie. Mr. Skiles is a Democrat, and was constable of the Eleventh District two years. He belongs to the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. fraternities.