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WHO WAS - Hiram Miles
in Plum Township
Venango County, Pennsylvania
By H. W. Strawbridge October 18, 1957

On Feb. 10, 1818, Hiram Miles was born in Pittsburgh. He was the second oldest of ten children of Lewis and Elizabeth Foster Miles. Lewis had served awhile in the War of 1812. The family lived for several years in Mercer County where Hiram was reared.

The Family located in Plum Township in 1839 where they contracted 500 acres. Hiram took over a part on the northwest corner of this land, and eventually bought 76 acres and 136 perches for $307.40. It was just east of Wallaceville and had been a part of the huge Samuel Dale estate.

On July 27, 1841, Hiram was married to Mary Foster with Rev. G. W. Thompson, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Titusville, officiating. Witnesses at the wedding were Hiram's brother and sister, Thomas and Harriet Miles. Mary was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Thompson Foster and was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., on Sept. 26, 1822. Her family ventured to Plum Township when she was a girl, locating by a spring between Sunville and Wallaceville. Mary had a famous great-great uncle who was one other than President Thomas Jefferson.

Hiram and Mary had the following children: Lewis Miles, Plummer Miles; Norris Miles; Sylvester Miles, Hugh Miles, Mrs. Margaret Spangler, Mrs. Mary Miller, Mrs. Louisa Kopf, Mrs. Gertrude Cochran, Mrs. Kissandra Richey, and Carie Miles. Two of these eleven children died in early years. Carried died at the age of three on March 12, 1869.

Dies in Andersonville

The oldest son, Lewis, enlisted in the Fourth Penna. Cavalry in October, 1861, for Civil War service. He was 19 years old at the time and was 5 feet, 4 and 3/4 inches tall with blue eyes, light complexion, and red hair. He participated in a number of battles and was eventually taken prisoner at Fairfax Court House, Va., on Aug. 2, 1863. It seems that Lewis and some other boys had been in Washington, D.C., and they left there to go to their regiment at Fairfax. When it was about dark, they were captured by Gen. John Mosby and his band of guerrillas. Lewis was confined at the Andersonville Prison in Georgia where he died of dysentery and diarrhea on June 3, 1864.

Parts of letters that he wrote home as still preserved in the National Archives in Washington. In one he says he would like to have some of the large apples and cakes that the home folks had written about. In another letter he wrote while "sitting down at the root of a tree," he said there were 50 horses in his company and that he had a good one. The rebels were within six miles from their position at the time, but that there were about 60,000 Union troops lying in the woods ready to march at a moments notice.

Hiram was a quiet, soft spoken and kindly man. He was friendly and a devout person. Like many people he didn't like to be corrected or contradicted while in conversation with someone. If anyone of his family would contradict him, it is said that Hiram would pinch the person instead of scolding him. Some facts about Hiram were related by two of his grandchildren, Lewis Spangler of Franklin Heights and Miss Dessie Spangler of Coraopolis.

Hiram used to run rafts on the Allegheny River from Franklin to Pittsburgh. He and other men kept their rafts tied near Tenth Street in Franklin. He would walk overland home after the trips.

Little Interest in Oil

He took a little interest in the oil speculations. He had an interest in the Foster farm lease in Cherrytree Township in 1864.

For at least two years prior to his enlistment, the son Lewis assisted in rearing the large family by helping to "provide fuel at the door of his folks," as it might be termed. In 1864, Hiram was seriously ill for a period of time. He had subsequent sicknesses for years afterward. Therefore he was compelled to hire help for his farm work. It was estimated that from 1864 to 1883 his expense of hired labor and taxes each year averaged about half of the amount that his farm products brought in. Thus it can be understood what Hiram had to contend with.

Hiram, Mary and Lewis were members of the Wallaceville M. E. Church during the early years of the organization. Hiram was a steward in the church for awhile. He helped to build the large church edifice in 1862 and '63.

It was during this same period that Hiram's son, Norris, built a new house for the family too. The family had lived in a log house previous to this. This would be what is now the Cline Pringle farmstead. Mary was so anxious to leave the old house that she moved into the new one before the doors, windows, etc., were installed. Hiram hauled the flooring for the house from a mill at Fagundus on an ox cart.

The new church was gradually being completed when a death occurred in the community. The family of the deceased wished to hold the funeral in the new church, but the flooring hadn't been laid in the church yet. So Hiram immediately gave his flooring to the church and it was hastily laid in time for the funeral. Evidence strongly points to the fact that this was the funeral of Robert J. Green, a young veteran of the Civil War who was given a medical discharge and returned home quite ill. He died on Aug. 25, 1863. He had been a charter member of the Wallaceville M. E. class and was upstanding in every respect.

Buys 22 Acres More Land

On July 11, 1867, Hiram bought an additional 22 and 8/10ths acres of land from his neighbor, Thomas Green, for $350. This made him a total of slightly more than 98 acres.

In 1886 Hiram sold his farm to his son, Hugh. The farm was rented for years after Hiram moved off. The present barn on the Pringle place is one that Hiram had, but not the house.

Hiram and Mary bought the 14 and 1/2 acre place of Dr. C. N. VanSickle located by the main corner in Wallaceville and moved there. They paid $1,300 for this property. The house sat in the present driveway of the home of Mrs. Pearl Kopf and family. Mrs. Kopf's late husband, M. N. Kopf, was a grandson of Hiram Miles.

On Sunday afternoon, May 10, 1891, the Miles house caught afire and burned down. Most of the contents were destroyed. Mr. Mile's daughter, Mrs. Kissandra Richey, was upstairs sleeping when she was awakened by the ringing of the church or school bell, giving warning of the fire. Kissandra managed to get out of the burning structure in time.

Builds Present Kopf House

Hiram had a new square-type house built and it is the house now owned by Mrs. Kopf.
Hiram and Mary were also charter members of the Second Advent Church in Wallaceville which organized in 1890 or '91. He gave the land on which the church was built, and of course helped to build the church edifice. A couple of frolics were held to build it. Hiram made a deed out to the three trustees in 1896, a few years after the church was built. Still possessed by Mrs. Pearl Kopf is a book entitled, "A Biography of George Whitefield." This book has Hiram Miles' name written inside the cover. Whitefield was an English evangelist during the eighteenth century.

Hiram was quite sickly at last. He required a lot of care which was tendered to him by his son-in-law, John Kopf. Hiram finally improved to the extent that he got up and around. Again, he took seriously ill and lived but two days, dying on Sept. 28, 1899. He was buried on Oct. 1 in the Wallaceville Cemetery following a church service.

Mrs. Miles was a small lady who was hard of hearing. She was generous and devoted to her family. She continued living in the family home until her death on March 3, 1906, caused by pneumonia.

Transcribed by Penny Kulbacki Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription ofinformation from both early and late (current contributors) work.