131. Short History of Samuel Miles, by his grand daughter Sarah Miles Wallace
I want to put this shorter condensed history of Samuel Miles Jr. in today. I still have 2 more entries which are from his own journal, and more detailed, and I will add them later for those who want to read the more complete journal.
SHORT HISTORY OF SAMUEL MILES
BY A GRANDDAUGHTER, SARAH MILES WALLACE, SISTER OF PAL'S FATHER, ORSON PRATT MILES.
My grandfather, Samuel Miles, was one of the most humble and appreciative men I ever knew. He expressed many times his thankfulness to the Lord for many blessings given him. He was an efficient speaker and took many home missionary assignments. He found great comfort in the Spirit of the Lord and lived a life worthy of the guidance of the Lord.
I remember him as gentle, slow to anger, and used a language free from profanity. He was an educator and at the time of his death was the oldest school teacher in Washington County. Even after he had retired from school teaching, he attended the teachers Institute held each fall in St. George and was always interested in education.
He taught his children not only secular education but the principles of the Gospel by precept and by example. Especially did he express the Word of Wisdom and the paying of tithing at the end of each year. Each year he added to his diary, “My sons and I paid an honest tithing the past year.” He subscribed for the Deseret News from the time it was first edited until the day of his death. His favorite song was “Come Let Us Anew”, first verse is “Come let us anew our journey pursue, roll round with the year and never stand still till the master appear. His adorable will let us gladly fulfill and our talents improve, by the patience of hope and the labor of love., etc.” He certainly put the meaning of this song into his own life, being a man of great patience and continually trying to improve his talents.
He held many positions in the Church. He was appointed a High Priest 8 August 1857 and ordained by Erastus Snow. He was ordained a Patriarch 14 June 1908 by Apostle John Henry Smith. He and his wife Hannah Marinda Colborn, celebrated their golden wedding 16 September 1899. Six of his children were present, 23 grandchildren and some relatives from Salt Lake City. He was always an ardent Temple worker and did many endowments for his kindred dead. He was a three time Pioneer, first to Salt Lake City, lived there 14 years, 1848 to 1862, then he was called to St. George by Brigham Young to help build up the Cotton Industry. Later in 1875 he was called by the authorities to Heberville (Later known as Price--now Bloomington) a few miles south of St. George to help build a community and work on a dam in the Virgin River in an effort to get water on this dry land. He was successful in this mission and had a field of lucern and other crops.
His son, William Gustavus wrote as part of his obituary:
At the age of fifteen Samuel Miles taught primary school in Nauvoo and later taught school in the eastern part of Hancock Co. After the death of the Prophet Joseph he rode fifty miles, passing through Carthage on the way, to attend the funeral. He also took an active part in defending the city of Nauvoo against the mob.
In June, 1846, he left Nauvoo for the west, and on reaching Council Bluffs, Iowa, enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. He often said the experiences from July 16, 1846 to July 16, 1847, when he was discharged at Los Angeles, Cal., formed a notable year in his life. Upon the Mormon Battalion reaching California, that country, then Mexican territory, was taken possession of in the name of the United States by the officer in command of the battalion, and Samuel Miles through his knowledge of United States law was enabled to make out the proper papers and forms relating to the transaction without the assistance of books.
Soon after his discharge Samuel Miles together with other discharged soldiers started for Great Salt Lake, but received word from Pres. Brigham Young to remain in California for a while longer. In San Diego, the battalion men also participated in community government. Because of his knowledge of American jurisprudence, Samuel Miles helped the Mexican Alcalde (Justice of the Peace or mayor) to administer U.S. laws.
During his stay in California he acquired a knowledge of Spanish from the Mexicans of that country and could speak that language quite fluently. He was the first alcalda (justice of the peace) to administer United States law in California. Returning to Utah in Sept., 1848, he settled in great Salt Lake City, and was married in that city to Hannah M. Colborn Sept. 6, 1849. In the same year he went east for his mother, his father having died during his absence, (during the time he was in the Mormon Battalion). He was ordained a Seventy Jan. 18, 1851 and in 1857 fulfilled a mission in California. Among accomplishments of my father, he was Superintendent of Sunday School, Ward Clerk, High councilman, Clerk of St. George, High Priest, Justice of the Peace, Adjutant in Nauvoo Legion, and Secretary of Price Irrigation company.
The photos above are of Samuel Miles and his wife Hannah Marinda. In this photo he is called Samuel Miles Sr. because he also had a son Samuel who grew up in St. George, but his father was also Samuel, who passed away in Missouri before the pioneers came to Utah.
(Back to Sarah’s writings) How I do remember the lovely pies grandmother (Hannah Marinda) made from the currants they raised and the dried sweet corn. We used to go to Price (now Bloomington) for her birthday on the 29th of December and the wonderful dinners she cooked, will always be remembered by me. In 1905 they moved back to St. George to be closer to the Temple in his older years. His time was spent from then on until his death mostly doing Temple work. My grandfather Samuel Miles Jr. Lived to be 84 years old. He died 22 May 1910 in St. George, Utah. He held the Church position of Patriarch when he died. He wrote in 1887, “Feel a determination to keep the commandments of the Lord and be more faithful than ever. I realized the Lord is blessing me with his spirit in answers to my prayers. I am seeking to be careful to keep the word of wisdom and observe all the commandments. I have much comfort in the Spirit of the Lord shed forth on me in my labors”.
He went to the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893, and in 1899 he and Hannah celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with 6 children and 23 grandchildren present. He had a U.S. pension up to the time of his death for his services with the Mormon Battalion. He died on Sunday, May 22, 1910, and his funeral services were held in the St. George Tabernacle at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. There were several talks about his eventful and useful life, and some beautiful singing. He is buried in the St. George cemetery just north of the northern road, east of the sexton’s building. His wife Hannah, (who lived only a year and a half after him) and eight children, seven sons and 1 daughter and many grandchildren survived him.
SHORT HISTORY OF SAMUEL MILES
BY A GRANDDAUGHTER, SARAH MILES WALLACE, SISTER OF PAL'S FATHER, ORSON PRATT MILES.
My grandfather, Samuel Miles, was one of the most humble and appreciative men I ever knew. He expressed many times his thankfulness to the Lord for many blessings given him. He was an efficient speaker and took many home missionary assignments. He found great comfort in the Spirit of the Lord and lived a life worthy of the guidance of the Lord.
I remember him as gentle, slow to anger, and used a language free from profanity. He was an educator and at the time of his death was the oldest school teacher in Washington County. Even after he had retired from school teaching, he attended the teachers Institute held each fall in St. George and was always interested in education.
He taught his children not only secular education but the principles of the Gospel by precept and by example. Especially did he express the Word of Wisdom and the paying of tithing at the end of each year. Each year he added to his diary, “My sons and I paid an honest tithing the past year.” He subscribed for the Deseret News from the time it was first edited until the day of his death. His favorite song was “Come Let Us Anew”, first verse is “Come let us anew our journey pursue, roll round with the year and never stand still till the master appear. His adorable will let us gladly fulfill and our talents improve, by the patience of hope and the labor of love., etc.” He certainly put the meaning of this song into his own life, being a man of great patience and continually trying to improve his talents.
He held many positions in the Church. He was appointed a High Priest 8 August 1857 and ordained by Erastus Snow. He was ordained a Patriarch 14 June 1908 by Apostle John Henry Smith. He and his wife Hannah Marinda Colborn, celebrated their golden wedding 16 September 1899. Six of his children were present, 23 grandchildren and some relatives from Salt Lake City. He was always an ardent Temple worker and did many endowments for his kindred dead. He was a three time Pioneer, first to Salt Lake City, lived there 14 years, 1848 to 1862, then he was called to St. George by Brigham Young to help build up the Cotton Industry. Later in 1875 he was called by the authorities to Heberville (Later known as Price--now Bloomington) a few miles south of St. George to help build a community and work on a dam in the Virgin River in an effort to get water on this dry land. He was successful in this mission and had a field of lucern and other crops.
His son, William Gustavus wrote as part of his obituary:
At the age of fifteen Samuel Miles taught primary school in Nauvoo and later taught school in the eastern part of Hancock Co. After the death of the Prophet Joseph he rode fifty miles, passing through Carthage on the way, to attend the funeral. He also took an active part in defending the city of Nauvoo against the mob.
In June, 1846, he left Nauvoo for the west, and on reaching Council Bluffs, Iowa, enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. He often said the experiences from July 16, 1846 to July 16, 1847, when he was discharged at Los Angeles, Cal., formed a notable year in his life. Upon the Mormon Battalion reaching California, that country, then Mexican territory, was taken possession of in the name of the United States by the officer in command of the battalion, and Samuel Miles through his knowledge of United States law was enabled to make out the proper papers and forms relating to the transaction without the assistance of books.
Soon after his discharge Samuel Miles together with other discharged soldiers started for Great Salt Lake, but received word from Pres. Brigham Young to remain in California for a while longer. In San Diego, the battalion men also participated in community government. Because of his knowledge of American jurisprudence, Samuel Miles helped the Mexican Alcalde (Justice of the Peace or mayor) to administer U.S. laws.
During his stay in California he acquired a knowledge of Spanish from the Mexicans of that country and could speak that language quite fluently. He was the first alcalda (justice of the peace) to administer United States law in California. Returning to Utah in Sept., 1848, he settled in great Salt Lake City, and was married in that city to Hannah M. Colborn Sept. 6, 1849. In the same year he went east for his mother, his father having died during his absence, (during the time he was in the Mormon Battalion). He was ordained a Seventy Jan. 18, 1851 and in 1857 fulfilled a mission in California. Among accomplishments of my father, he was Superintendent of Sunday School, Ward Clerk, High councilman, Clerk of St. George, High Priest, Justice of the Peace, Adjutant in Nauvoo Legion, and Secretary of Price Irrigation company.
The photos above are of Samuel Miles and his wife Hannah Marinda. In this photo he is called Samuel Miles Sr. because he also had a son Samuel who grew up in St. George, but his father was also Samuel, who passed away in Missouri before the pioneers came to Utah.
(Back to Sarah’s writings) How I do remember the lovely pies grandmother (Hannah Marinda) made from the currants they raised and the dried sweet corn. We used to go to Price (now Bloomington) for her birthday on the 29th of December and the wonderful dinners she cooked, will always be remembered by me. In 1905 they moved back to St. George to be closer to the Temple in his older years. His time was spent from then on until his death mostly doing Temple work. My grandfather Samuel Miles Jr. Lived to be 84 years old. He died 22 May 1910 in St. George, Utah. He held the Church position of Patriarch when he died. He wrote in 1887, “Feel a determination to keep the commandments of the Lord and be more faithful than ever. I realized the Lord is blessing me with his spirit in answers to my prayers. I am seeking to be careful to keep the word of wisdom and observe all the commandments. I have much comfort in the Spirit of the Lord shed forth on me in my labors”.
He went to the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893, and in 1899 he and Hannah celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with 6 children and 23 grandchildren present. He had a U.S. pension up to the time of his death for his services with the Mormon Battalion. He died on Sunday, May 22, 1910, and his funeral services were held in the St. George Tabernacle at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. There were several talks about his eventful and useful life, and some beautiful singing. He is buried in the St. George cemetery just north of the northern road, east of the sexton’s building. His wife Hannah, (who lived only a year and a half after him) and eight children, seven sons and 1 daughter and many grandchildren survived him.
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