George LILES, a prosperous and enterprising farmer of Union Township, living on section 3, was born in Ross County, Ohio, September 21, 1828, a son of Lemuel and Hannah LILES, the father a native of Tennessee, and the mother born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent. They moved with their family to Ohio in an early day, where both died, the mother in 1852, and the father in 1875, in his ninety-seventh year. They were the parents of fourteen children – ten sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was the ninth child. Thirteen of the children grew to maturity, and at present seven are yet living.

George LILES was reared on a farm and early in life inured to toil. He grew to manhood in Logan County, Ohio, and was there married July 13, 1854, to Miss Hannah COOPER, a native of Hardin County, Ohio, born December 4, 1835, a daughter of William and Sarah COOPER. To Mr. and Mrs. LLILES have been born thirteen children, of whom eight are living – Joseph G., at home; Aramintia, wife of Samuel DONAVAN (sic, should be Armintia DANOVON) of Union Township; Lemuel, at home; Ruth, wife of William DICKSON of Union Township; Julie, John, Emma Agnes and Birt, living at home. Four died in infancy, and one son, Franz Sigle (sic, should be Frantz Seigle), died at the age of sixteen years.

Mr. LILES resided in Hardin County, Ohio, one year after his marriage, and in the fall of 1855 located in Davis County, Iowa, where he followed farming and coal mining for several years. In January, 1865, he visited Ringgold County, when he purchased 160 acres of John Paine, who had built a small cabin on the farm and opened twenty acres, and the same spring brought his family to their new home, where they have since resided.

Mr. LILES made his first money in Ohio, in cutting hoop poles, stave bolts, etc. When he reached Davis County, he had but $240 in cash and a team. There he bought a farm of 120 acres for $1,000, making his payments principally with the money he earned at coal-mining, and by his industrious habits and strict economy he has acquired from small beginnings a good property and is now the owner of a good home; and by his honorable and industrious life he has gained the confidence and respect of the entire community.

Mr. LILES has never allowed unfavorable weather to interrupt the usual farm operations, believing that seed time and harvest are promised, and he has never failed to merit and receive fair returns for labor.

NOTE: Lemuel LILES was born in North Carolina near the year 1780, and when 12 years old moved to Tennessee, where he lived till 1812, when he enlisted in the army, and served nearly two years, and was at the battle of Sandusky, and received his discharge when at Sackett's Harbor. He walked from there to Beaver Co., Penn., and stopped for the purpose of replenishing his purse; while here he became warmly attached to a young lady by the name of Hannah DERINGER (sic); her parents were opposed to their marriage, but love surmounts all obstacles [they were married in Pennsylvania on March 9, 1914], and they started on a wedding tour down the Ohio river in a "dug-out" canoe, which contained their worldly effects, their objective point being Tennessee. They stopped at Ross county [Ohio], to visit an uncle, and having only $7 in money, they were induced to make that place their home.

He leased a farm for a number of years, but sold his lease in 1831, and moved to Logan County, where he bought 100 acres of military land, on which he lived till his death, in 1876.

He helped each of his children to a home, and was for many years a licensed preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he joined soon after marriage.

Joseph learned the mason trade when 14 years old, and followed it for near 14 years, when he relinquised it, and has since made farming his chief occupation. In 1865, he bought the mill south of Belle Centre, and controlled it till 1878, when he and his son built a large and comodious structure in that town, and moved the machinery to that place.

He was married March 16, 1878, to Anna, daughter of James and Rebecca (TUCKER) FAROUT. She was born January 6, 1826, in Champaign Co. By this union three children have been born - George W., living in Hardin County, and John B. in Belle Centre, superintending the mill. [He] has been identified with the Purblican party since its organization. --History of Logan County, Ohio

Hannah DERRINGER, was born September 9, 1790, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Daniel DERRINGER (1763-1841) and Catherine (DEVOISE) DERRINGER (1769-?). Her paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany; Johannes THURINGER (1733-1797) and Maria Catherina THURINGER (1735-1815). Hannah died October 29, 1853 [March 3, 1871 on some records], Logan County, Ohio. Lemuel LILES died on March 3, 1871, Logan County, Ohio. Hannah and Lemuel were the parents of fourteen children: Nancy, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Prudence, Catherine, Lemuel Jr., Jesse, Joseph, George (1828-1901), Jacob, John, Gideon, Daniel, and one child dying in infancy.

George LILES died on February 3, 1901, Ringgold County, Iowa. Hannah (COOPER) LILES was born December 6, 1834, Belleplain, Hardin County, Ohio, the daughter of William COOPER (ca. 1806-1849) and Sarah COOPER (ca. 1810 -?). Hannah died September 1913, Union Township of Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Hannah were interred at Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Hannah were the parents of thirteen children:

1) Joseph Gideon LILES, born 18 Jul 1855, Hardin Co. OH; died 04 Nov 1924
    interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

2) Aramintia LILES, born 06 Dec 1857, Hardin Co. OH; died 23 Jan 1897, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 24 Oct 1881, Ringgold Co. IA Samuel M. DANOVON, born cica 1853 IA
    interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

3) Infant LILES, born and died Hardin Co. OH

4) Lemuel M. LILES, born 21 Jan 1864, Davis Co. IA; died 12 May 1948, Grand River IA
    married 19 May 1895 Annabelle VEST, born 1874, Creston IA; died 08 Jul 1969, Osceola IA
             daughter of George VEST (ca. 1854- ?) & Margaret Jane (FIVECOAT) (1858-1928)
    interment Grand River Cemetery, Grand River IA
    Children:
      1) George Emmett LILES
          born 21 Dec 1895, Ringgold Co. IA
          K.I.A. 29 Sep 1918, Bellecourte, France
          WWI, Co. D, 117th Infantry
       2) Jay M. LILES, born 21 Apr 1897, Ellston IA; died 03 Feb 1968, Mount Ayr IA
           married 13 Aug 1920 Opal HAZEN, born circa 1901
       3) Beatrice LILES, born 24 Aug 1899, Ringgold Co. IA
           married 14 Apr 1920 George SEIFKAS, born circa 1895
       4) Hannah Margaret LILES, born 10 Nov 1901, Ringgold Co. IA; died 26 Jul 1972, Lincoln NE
           married 23 Aug 1922 Benjamin ROBINSON, born 21 Oct 1900, IA; died 23 Mar 1970, Mount Ayr
           interment Ellston Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
       5) Velda Jaudina LILES, twin, born 03 Jan 1907, Ellston IA; died 07 Apr 1973
       6) Velma Jaunita LILES, twin, born 03 Jan 1907, Ellston IA; died 09 Sep 1963
       7) Ralph Wayne LILES, born 21 Jan 1918, Ringgold Co. IA: died Dec 1981, Parker AZ
       8) Child LILES

5) Ruth Ann LILES, born circa 1865, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 30 Apr 1885 Willis DICKSON, born circa 1861

6) Infant LILES, born and died in Ringgold Co. IA

7) Frantz Seigle LILES LILES, born March 1868, Ringgold Co. IA; died 01 Apr 1879, age 11y 1m 2 days
    interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

8) Lilly LILES, died 28 Mar 1875, aged 1y 9m 28 days
    interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

9) Julie LILES, born circa 1878, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 12 Jun 1889, Ringgold Co. IA William P. ARNOLD, born circa 1866

10) Frances B. "Fannie" LILES, born Feb 1879, Ringgold Co. IA; died 10 Sep 1876, aged 6y 6m 6 days
      interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

11) John D. LILES, born circa 1872, Ringgold Co. IA

12) Emma Agnes LILES, born circa 1878, Ringgold Co. IA
      married 07 Sep 1897, Mount Ayr IA Edward B. ARNOLD, born circa 1875

13) Bert O. LILES, born 15 Jul 1882, Ringgold Co. IA; died 30 Sep 1902
      interment Pumptown Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 366, 1887.

SOURCES:
PERRIN, William Henry History of Logan County, Ohio, p. 806. O.L. Baskin & Co. Chicago 1880.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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