Biography of

David Miles, Captain

Companies D, F

David Miles was one of three brothers serving in Company D of the 18th Ohio during the Civil War. He, along with Ranslier, and Noah were all from Athens County, Ohio. David was born about 1813 in New York. David and his wife, Fanny Frost, had at least 6 children. Osmer was born about 1839, Rhoda about 1842, Clarence about 1845, Hester about 1848, Hartman about 1849, and Vincent about 1854. David served Lodi Township as a Justice of the Peace for 1842 and 1845 as well as a Township Trustee from 1852-3. The 1860 census for Athens County, Ohio lists David as a farmer in Lodi Township.

He enlisted as a Captain in Company D of the 18th Ohio Volunteers on September 25, 1861 at the age of 46. He resigned his commission on September 18, 1862 as reported by Archelaus S. Camp, 1st Sergeant of Company D, in his journal. It is not presently known as to the circumstances of his resignation, but a large number of officers were leaving the service at about the same time. However, it did not keep him from rejoining the unit on June 8, 1864 when he accepted the commission of Captain in Company F. He was mustered out on November 9, 1864 with the rest of his company.

Sadly, David's son, Clarence Miles was a casualty of the war. He had enlisted as a Private in Co K of the 73rd Ohio. He was either wounded or contracted a disease and died at home on December 1, 1863. Clarence was buried in the Jerseyville Cemetery at Shade, Ohio next to his brother Osmer. David's other son, Osmer, enlisted in the 18th and is found on the biography page created for him. .

After the war, Fanny and Vincent were living with Sarah Miles in Lodi Township, Athens County, Ohio in 1870. In 1880, David, Fanny, and Vincent were living in Wolcott, Rice County, Minnesota where David worked as a stone mason. He died before January 6, 1888 since Fanny started to receive his pension after moving to Missouri.

A point of interest worth mentioning is that David was the grandson of Noah Miles born about 1757 in Pauling, Dutchess County, New York and the brother of Ransalier, Company D, and Noah, Company D. The elder Noah was a veteran of the Revolutionary War by enlisting in Colonel Abraham Brinkerhoff's Regiment of Minute Men of Dutchess County. The elder Noah moved to Lee Township, Athens County where he died in 1822.

(Information provided by Will Slater, who has graciously allowed this to be posted to the website)