Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-08-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
Our Oldest pioneer Gone.

our OldeSt Pioneer Gone.
The st. Helena (Cd.) Times of
July 1st contains, under the above
caption, the following extended no.
tice of the death of Col. j. b. Chiles.
The deceased was a son-in-law of the
late II. d. Garnhart, of this county,
and leaves a number of connections
by marriage in our midst:
The old Napa Valley veteran and pioneer,
Col. j. B. Chtles. has gone to his long home,
and the man whose name and face were fa-
miliar features of our local history for more
than the nverage lifetime of one generation
Will never moro be seen among us here on cartlT
Col. Chiles died at his residence In st. Helena
Ut = O'Clock on Thursday morning last, ut the
ripe age of 75 years. He was pioneer in the
true sense of the term. He came to the conn
try whenit was wilderness, and assisted in
making 1t blossom as the rose Being reared
to toll and hard work, the dangers incident to
the opening up of n new country possessed no
terrors for him. Through the influence of his
noble example many followed him from the
East, and under his leadership helped to pave
the way for.the enduring civilization that VIC
now enjoy.
Col. Chiles was born in Clarke county. Ken
lucky. July 1G, 1910. lie removed from there
to Missouri where he remained for several
years. having participated in tho meantime in
some of the most decisive engagements of the
Florida war. I!e continued to reside there
until lS4l- and in Palmer's History of Napu
County" we find the following rs part of the
biographical sketch of the pioneer:
He then. with thirty-onc mcn,, one woman
and one child. started across the tracklcss dca-
ert aud unscaled mountains. bound for Cali
t0rnia. In this party were Sam, Andy and
Ben Kelsey. the latter's wife md child. They
passed up the Platte River. thence to the head
of the Humboldt River, thence down that
stream to the Sink; thence southwark. ON the
| east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, to
the Joseph Walker Pass; thence down the
Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers. They mr.
| rived In the State in October. and their first
stOpping-pl0ce was at Doctor Marsll's, near tho
northern foot of Mount Diable. They then
proceeded to SOnonIa. where passports were
issned to them. upon the vOuching of Doctor
Marsh and other American residents for their
good behavior. After receiving their passports
he and Charles Hopper spent the winter in
travelling. In the spring they went to- Suffers
Fort and there provided themselves with pro-
visions, etc, for their return trip. In his
travels around tile country that winter he pas
sed through what Is now known us Chiles VAL
ley. In 1919 with company of nine mon
ne made the return tripto Missouri. Thirteen
started in the party. but ut Fort Hall four of
them left the company and started for Oregon.
Just at this time the Sioux Indians were very
hostile. the Chilcs party changed their course
and went by way of Santa Fe. Once arrived
in Missouri they set about organizing another
party to cross the plains to California. In
1853. he. with company of fifty or sixty well
equipped with teams, wagons, provisions. etc,
| started for California. When the party ar
rived ut Fort Hall they met Capt. Joseph Wal
ter, and his services as guide were secured.
CoIoheIC Chtles then took party of thirty horse
men and proceeded by way of Fort Boise and
safely at Suffers Fort. The wagon team ur-
| der Walker moved slowly, and on their way
/ from Carsop's Lake to, the Walker Pass they
/ had to cache what goods they could not pack,
and also to deEert!their wagons. They finally
/ all arrived In California about December Of
| that year. In 1874 Col. Chiles came to Napa
/ valley and went before an Alcado and took tiie
4 proper steps TO secure grant from the MeXi-
can Government of the tract of land now
known as the Catacula Rancho All that he
paid for that prtncely domain. was $40 for n
sheet of paper on which TO write the deed. In
4 1874 he erected log house on the present site
of his abode. He took an active part in the
hear Flag war, and cared for tho families Of
| General Vallejo. Jacob P. Leese and others.
| He never visited the mines but devoted bis
| whole attention to stock raising in the early
days. In 1S47 he returned to Missouri with
Commodore Stockton. acting as pilot. for which
service he received 81 per day. In 1913 he
brought his children to California. In 1853 be
again returned to Missouri. and was married,
and in 1854 came again 10 California, bringing
his wife with him"
lie lived for long time in Chiles Valley,
and about three years ago he removed TO tho
mountains of Lake County, building residence
near Coyote Valley. He made occasional visits
to st. Helena, where most of his family reside
| and about five weeks ago, and while still very
| Ill, hc wos brought down for the last time,
| knowing probably that his end was near, and
| was desirOus of dying in the bosom of his fam
ily- He was accompanied on the trip by his
| physician DR.. Dawson. Since his arrival here
he has been gradually sinking. but being a man
OF strong VIII, great nerve and iron frame. he
| fought the grim messenger and was resoIute
and communicative almost to the last moment.
4 Col. Chiles bad been married twice, and his
second wife still survives him. BY his first wife
n fFTfN fNNFRVO n.
Tnlly: ESD: also Jas. Chiles, Mrs Brown,
Mrs. jerome Davis of Sacramento: by his las,
wife w. g. Chiles. Mrs. Elgfn. Mrs p ~
Wheeler, j. B. Chiles, Mrs. A. n. Bell, Henry
Chiles. -
The funeral here on Saturday was one of the
largest demonstrations Of the kind ever held
In this valley People were present from ali
sections of the county, and from Lake and So
noma. The Parlor of the Native Sons Of III,
I u. w of st. Helena turned out TWENTY-FIVE
strong, and from Napa the organization there
was represented by morethana dozen member
comprising H. C. Gesford, District Attorney
Hofan. Mr. Hackett of the Repor1er, as wen a,
large delegation Of other Eapaftes amone
whom We noticed Hon. r. z. JOHNSON, Mf
Goodman of the Bank Of Mana Mr. R50Ua
and several other gentlemen.
Rev. Mr.. Mitchell delivered a brief but eIo
quent discourse on the occasion. and the many
hundred spectators, with the borrowing rela
tiVes; TOOK last view of the mortal remains o
the old hero who in life had been Eueh q con
sPicuous figure in. our history. In addition Il
|; the Native Sons who preceded the bearse
nearly one hundred carriages followed in til,
mo4rnfnl procession with occupants who at
tended the services at the grave. And thu
has gone from our unidst one Of our mort prom
tnent figures. Col. Chiles was plain, ont
spoken man; trough diamond" he might b,
: termed. In him WAS. exemp1f1ed the mobiles
!, work of the Creator, for aIl concede that h.
Wos an honest man. HeheWed his way through
life. and carved out his own fortune from the
wilderness. and the grave that encfrcIes the re
mains of Joseph Ba1TfuPeF Chfies will ever be
treasured as sacred spot by citizens OF Gapa
county, and the name of It's occupant be eTeI
held In grateful memory by those who follow
) him.
] coRx wanted at the SPIRIT Office.