Capt. John W. Niles, a retired farmer residing at Sterling, was born in Madison Co. NY Nov. 11, 1832. His parents, John and Sarah (Mosely) Niles, emigrated West in 1855, settling in Jones Co. IA upon a tract of 480 acres of land where they resided for 13 years. They then sold that place and removed to Sterling, and resided with their son until their death. Mr. Niles died in November 1882 aged 82 years and Mrs. Niles died Sept. 1, 1884 aged 82 years. They had lived together for 59 years.
Capt. Niles, the subject of this sketch, was an inmate of his paental home until he was 20 years of age, receiving an academical education at Hamiton NY. Then in 1850 he went to OH and was a clerk in a bank for a year. Returning to the State of NY he taught school winters until 1853 when he moved to IA and followed farming until the summer of 1861.
At this time the tocsin of war was sounded and he regarded it as a call to exhibit his patriotism by engagement in the field of carnage. Accordingly he enlisted in the 9th Ret. IA Vol. Inf. and was immediately appointed Sergeant. Going with Gen. Curtis' army to the southwestern part of the Stae of MO he participated in the battle of Pea Ridge. Next, he was in Gen. Grants army during the Vicksburg campaign, was at the charge of Vicksburg on the 22nd of May, 1863 and for gallantry in action he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lt. He was also engaged in the campaign of Lookout Mountain and missionary Ridge in the fall of 1863. In the summer of 1864 he was Regimental Quartermaster in the Atlanta campaign, and participated in Gen. SHerman's grand "march to the sea," when he received his commission as Captain. Was with Gen. Sherman at the surrender of Johnston at Raleigh, NC. He took part in many battles and skirmished too numerous to mention here. After participating in the Grand Review at Washington DC the 15th Corps, of which he was a member, was taken to Louisville KY in July 1865 and mustered out. Thus after a service of four years in the greatest war ever waged, Capt. Niles was honorably discharged.
Returning from the war he purchased 200 acres of land four miles south of Sterling, and occupied it as an agriculturist until October 1875 when he sold it and moved into a residence he bought on Walnut Street in the city of Sterling, where he is now a resident. He is Alderman of the Second Ward, and Secretary of the Board of Education of that Ward. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Commander of the Post of G.A.R., a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church of Sterling and a leading representative citizen of Whiteside County.
Portraits & Biographical Whiteside County 1885 Pg 417
