The Minor Family of Somerset

From A Reminiscent History of the Ozarks Region, Christian Count
y Missour Histories
Hon. Steven L. Wiles
Mr. Wiles is a prominent citizen of Polk Township, and one whos
e constancy to the business in hand and whose thrift have adde
d so greatly to the value of the agricultural region. He is a n
ative of North Carolina, was born in the year 1831, and is the s
on of Steven and Rachel (Steelman) Wiles, also natives of Surr
y County N.C. Our subjects paternal grandfather, Steven Wiles
, was born in England and there reared and married. Prior to th
e Revolutionary War he came to the United States and located i
n Surry County, N.C., where the remainder of his Days were passe
d in tilling thesoil. He served his adopted country six year
s in the Revolution and was a brave and faithful soldier. He wa
s the father of seven sons and two duaghters,among them were th
e following: Pierson, John, Luke, Hiram, Gillam and Steven. Th
e name of the other child is forgotten. Our subject's materna
l grandfather, Charles Steelman, also an Englishman, was reare
d and married in that country. He came to the United States prv
ious to the Revolution but was not asoldier. He was a farmer a
nd passed the remainder of his life in North Carolina. The pare
nts of our subject grew to mature years in their native countya
nd received limited educations in the common schools. They wer
e marriedthere, and there continued to make their home until ea
rly in 1832, when theyremoved to Lincoln County, Tenn., when th
at part of the State was wild and unsettled. There the father f
armed until his death in January, 1856, when seventy-three year
s of age, his birth having occurred just at the close of the Rev
olutionary War. His wife died about 1838. They were the parent
s of nincechildren as follows:, Jane, the wife of Samuel Cunnin
ghm, died in Stone County: Eleanor, widow of James Miles; Cather
ine, who died in Laclede County, Missouri, was the wife of Mr. R
eese; Charles died in Lincoln County, Tenn., a few years ago; Ce
lia, the wife of henry Sullivan, died in Christian County, Mp;
, Rachel, wife of Thomas Sullivan, died in Stone County; rose, t
he widow ofMarion Wade, resides in Madison County, Ark.; Polly
, the wife of Abraham Cunningham, died in Gentry County, Mo., an
d Steven L., our subject. The later passed his youthful Days am
id the rude surroundings of pioneer life and as there were no pu
blic schools his educational advantages were limited.
In February 1849, he married to Miss Elizabeth Mills, daughter o
f James and nancy Mills, and a native of Lincoln County, Tenn
. Her parents were born in North Crolina, but after marriage th
ey came to Lincoln County, Tenn., where their lastDays were pas
sed. The children bor to our subject and wife were named as fol
lows; Charles Newton died when five years of age; Langford McDon
als; JamesW. Eveline, died when an infant; Willia, Roswell, Pin
son, died in infancy, and Alonzo. In 1852 Mr. Wiles came by wag
on to Berry County, Mo., resided there for four years and then l
ocated near Billing where for twenty-four years hehas been on h
is present farm, five miles southWest of that town. He settle
d on wild prairie and now has a fine farm of 160 acres in the ho
me place andeighty acres not far away. Nearly all this is unde
r cultivation. In April1861, the threatening attitude of polit
ical affairs occupied his serious attention, and he first joine
d the Home Guards, Company M, under Col. Phelps, forthree month
s, or until August 20. He served as lieutenant and was on picke
t at the Wilson Creek fight. After the expiration of this servi
ce he had smallpox and was not fit for duty for some time, but d
uring the summer of 1862he enlisted in Company B., Seventy-seco
nd Missouri Infantry, as sergeant, andserved eight and a half m
onths in Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory and Kansas. Afte
r that he joined the Sixth Provisio