Elsie Jane Miles
written by J.A. Oxford

"On Tuesday afternoon of last week about 1 o' clock, when the telephone wires flashed the news of the death of Mrs. Miles, Rosiclare was shocked perhaps as it was never shocked before, and in fact the whole county was shocked and grieved, partly because of the suddenness of her demise, but much more because of the high esteem in which she was held by all who knew her, and she had a wide acquaintance in the county. The duty of announcing her death more publicly through the two county papers this week, and portraying as best I may her life and good works, has been assigned to the writer, and I here and now address myself to that task.

Mrs. Elsie J. Miles, wife of J. W. Miles, whose maiden name was Gustin, was born in Switzerland County, Ind., July 4, 1847, and died in her home in Rosiclare, Ill., March 4, 1913, after an illness of about 35 hours, of congestion of the stomach. She was first married to S.C. Oxford about 1864, by whom she had 4 children, all of whom survive her but one, which died in infancy. Her first marriage proved to be uncongenial and they separated, through no fault of hers, however. She then married J. W. Miles, in the fall of 1873, by whom she had 4 children, all of whom with the husband survive her. Her children in the order of their births follow: By Oxford, Sarah, Ellen, John Allen and Kate. By Miles, Arthur A., William L., Hannah and Birdie. She was converted and joined the Christian Church when she was but 16 years of age, and remained a consistent member of said church to the end, and for several years prior to death has been especially devoted to the church of her choice cause of Christianity in general. Her house had long been an asylum for the preacher, who pastored their church or chanced to visit in that community, where he always found refuge, comfort and kindly treatment. And the same kindness shown her own ministers she graciously bestowed upon all worthy ministers whose good fortune it was to visit her. In fact she had a wonderful capacity for entertaining, and nothing seemed to afford her more pleasure than to have her friends visit her, and nothing she had was too good for them. She often exerted herself far beyond her strength to make her guests feel at home and show them a good time. Her kindness was not confined to her special friends, or to the well-to-do, but her sympathetic heart went out to the poor as well, and she was not stingy in favors to them, indeed, she possessed a noble and generous heart, and her love and devotion to her husband and children were only measured by her strength to perform. And their love and devotion, to wife and mother were no less tenderly reciprocated. She was a leading member of the Ladies Aid Society of Rosiclare, who rendered such valuable help in building the new Christian Church house there a few years ago. She bacame a member of the Willard, Rebekah Lodge at Elizabethtown about 14 years ago, and remained a good member of the said order until it went down. For several years she had been one of the most beloved members of the Eastern Star Chapter of Elizabethtown, which society officiated at the grave, in the I.O.O.F. cemetery at Rosiclare, where her remains were tenderly consigned to their last resting place, after a beautiful and impressive funeral discourse at the church house by Rev. E. E. Montgomery, the M. E. pastor of Elizabethtown. The writer desires in conclusion to pay the deceased and her good family a personal tribute for the many kindnesses shown him, and begs to tender the aged and afflicted husband, and children, his heartfelt sympathy in their great hour of bereavement." Source: submitted by: Amanda Trill, great-great granddaughter of Elsie J. Miles, Trillntn@aol.com and transcribed by Deanna Heneghan

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