Wilson Alexander Biles

2. Wilson’s birth: 16 November 1892 at home on the family farm (previously the Jacob Place Biles residence) near Homet’s Ferry, Wyalusing Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Wilson’s death: 23/29 April 1960 at home in Salem, Oregon from complications of a heart attack; had had a heart condition for several years. Funeral Monday, 25 April at Highland Avenue Friends Church with Reverend Nathan B. Pierson officiating. Interment Belcrest Memorial Park.

3. Wilson’s formal education:

From	To	School Name, Location, Diploma/Degree


	1914	Winona Lake Agricultural College, Winona Lake, Wayne County, Kosciusko County, Indiana

4. Wilson’s marriage:

a. To whom: Geneva Florence Hunt (photos) (SSN: 544-14-9629)

“Gene”

(1) Geneva’s parents: Dr. Alfred Thomas and Ora Jane (Harold) Hunt of Westfield, Indiana.

(2) Geneva’s birth: 9 April 1891 at Indianapolis, Indiana.

Geneva’s death: 22 September 1988 at Stayton, Oregon.

b. When and where: 22 October 1918 (license issued 21 Oct 1918 in Hamilton Co., IN) at Westfield, Indiana. (J.A. Biles Bible date: 20 Oct 1918)

c. Children:

(1) Mary Elizabeth Biles: Born 14 September 1919.

(2) Harold Wilson Biles: Born 1 December 1921.

(3) Ruth Esther Biles: Born 22 November 1930.

(4) John David Biles: Born 15 February 1933.

(5) Donald Richard Biles: Born 28 July 1934.

5. Wilson’s employment history:

From	To	Employer, location, job title


1914	1929	Managed a large dairy farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana.
	1929	Managed a dairy farm in Michigan; moved to Oregon in April 1929.
1929		Operated his own farm near Salem, Oregon
	1958	Salem Feed and Implement Company; retired due to poor health
1958		Valley Farm Hardware

6. Wilson’s addresses:

From	To	Address
		Resided with his parents on the family farm near Homet’s Ferry, Wyalusing Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania
		Winona Lake College, Wayne Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana
		Westfield, Indiana
		Glen Eden Farm, Columbia City, Indiana.
		Fort Wayne, Indiana
		Moved to Oregon in 1929. In Jan 1985: 2430 Hollywood Drive NE, Salem, Oregon 97305
		Stayton, Oregon

7. Other biographical notes on Wilson:

a. Resided with his maternal grandparents, Wilson and Sarah Ellen Kerrick of Asylum Township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania from the age of 8 to age 18.

8. Census records:

1917 WWI Draft Registration: Wilson Alexander Biles, age 24 (b. 16 Nov 1892 at Homets Ferry, PA), single, and employed as a dairy superintendent for the Brookside Farm Company, resided at Fort Wayne (Brookside Farm), Allen County, Indiana.

1920 US Census: Wilson A. Biles, age 27 (b. PA; parents b. PA) and employed as a farm manager, was heading a household in Washington Township, Allen County, Indiana. The household also included his wife, Jeneva Biles, age 28 (b. IN; parents b. IN); daughter, Mary E. Biles, age 4 months (b. IN; father b. PA; mother b. IN); sister-in-law, Esther Hunt, age 20 (b. IN; parents b. IN); brother, John R. Biles, age 20 (b. PA; parents b. PA), single, and employed as a farm laborer; hired hand, Walter E. Price, age 23 (b. IN; parents b. OH); hired hand, Earl Woodworth, age 22 (b. OH; parents b. OH); farm hand, Benjamin Sowle, age 52 (b. IN) and single; and chauffeur, Fred Brandenberger, age 44 (b. Prussia; parents b. Germany), who immigrated to the US in 1889 and became a naturalized citizen in 1912.

1930 US Census: Wilson A. Biles, age 37 (b. PA; parents b. PA) and employed as a herdsman for a dairy, was heading a household in Warren Precinct, Columbia County, Oregon. He married 1st at age 25. The household also included his wife, Geneva H. Biles, age 38 (b. IN; parents b. IN); daughter, Mary E. Biles, age 10 (b. IN; father b. PA; mother b. IN); and son, Harold W. Biles, age 8 (b. IN; father b. PA; mother b. IN).

1940 US Census: Wilson A. Biles, age 47 (b. PA) and employed as a sales clerk for a retail feed store, was heading a household on Route 7 in Englewood Precinct, Marion County, Oregon. He had completed 4 years of college and his residence was valued at $1,500. The household also included his wife, Geneva H. Biles, age 49 (b. IN), who had completed 1 year of college; son, Harold W. Biles, age 18 (b. IN) and single, who had completed 3 years of high school; daughter, Ruth Esther Biles, age 9 (b. OR); and son, John David Biles, age 7?(b. OR). On 1 April 1935 they resided in the same township.

1942 WWII Draft Registration: Wilson Alexander Biles, age 49 (b. 16 Nov 1892 in Wyalusing Twp, Bradford Co., PA) and employed by the Salem Seed & Implement Company, resided with his wife, Geneva Biles, at Route 7, Box 468, Salem, Marion County, Oregon.

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