John J. Piles

    John J. Piles, farmer, Monroe Township, was born November 23, 1823, in Kentucky, and is the son of William Piles, a native of Henry County, Kentucky. His father, Conericus Piles, a native of Virginia, was one  of the famous "hunters of Kentucky" of Daniel Boone's days, and was a Revolutionary soldier.

    William Piles settled in Switzerland County, Indiana, as early as 1825 or '26, where he lived for many years. There he married Elizabeth Haydon, who was the daughter of William Haydon, a native of Virginia, who removed to Kentucky at an early time of his life and lived there a great many years. Of this family, Ben, Jackson, Thomas and Bland Haydon were soldiers in the War of 1812-15.

    Mr. John J. Piles was a son of these parents, and was raised on a farm. In 1846 he was married to Miss Cynthia A. Rayburn, daughter of R. Rayburn, a native of Kentucky, of Irish ancestry. Her mother, Nancy Ryden, was a native of Kentucky.

    MR. Piles and wife have never had any children of their own, but have furnished homes for five of other parents, namely: Chas U. Kenen, Martin L. Rayburn, Nancy J. Piles, and her two daughters, Laura B. and Elizabeth. Mr. Piles went at the first call for troops in the Rebellion, as a private in Company D, Thirty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was in all the battles of his regiment, viz: Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, etc. The regiment was with Sherman in his famous "March to the Sea." Served three years, and came back to farmer's life, settling in Jefferson County, Monroe Township. He is a member of the G. A. R. and is a good citizen.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.