The John Edwin and Grace Giles Family by Becky Koch, 1980
The following unedited notes were the results of Becky's interviews with family members in about 1980.
Lillie Spargo Giles
1873-1956
Arthur Edwin Giles
l872-1939
Lillie Spargo was probably born in Hazleton, Pa. Her parents owned a music store there. She was one of four girls in the family.
Arthur Edwin Giles was the firstborn of Ida Fruit and Capt. John Edwin Giles. John served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was thereafter addressed by his title Capt. Giles. He probably was born around Hazleton, Pa. and spent his life there. He was known by Thos. A. Edison and was probably instrumental in getting electric lights in Hazleton. Arthur was associated with the management of coal mines all of his life. The family lived in Loch Haven, Pa., Latrobe, Pa. before moving to Benton, Illinois, where he and Lillie lived in their three-bedroom brick house for the rest of their lives. He was associated with the C, W & T, Coal Co. in West Frankfort, ill.
Pearle Snyder Neifert
1876-1932
John Jacob Neifert
6-13-1869 to 12-16-1953
Pearle May Snyder was probably born in Quakake, Pa. She had one brother, Willie. Her father died of an apparent heart attack on the street on the way home from work. Willie also died of a heart attack. Pearle suffered from heart trouble and died at the age of 56.
John Jacob Neifert was born in Quakake, Pa. one of 11 children and the the middle of nine sons. (see clippings) He and Pearle were married and lived in Delano, Pa. where their first three daughters were born: Grace Iola, Blanche Edna and Pearle Elnora. The family moved to Hazleton, Pa. and lived on Locust St. a short distance from the train station. They later moved to 612 N. Vine St. in Hazleton, the family home until it was sold in the 196O's. Twice a year a seamstress would live in the house for a short time, and busily make outfits for mother and daughters. A fourth daughter, Dorothea Alice was born when the others were in High School and the three named her. Grace graduated High School in 1913 and Bloomsburg (Pa.) Normal school in 1915. She taught second grade in Hazleton to complete her teaching certification (a request from her father, before she was to marry). Grace remembers the strict rules in college, such as separate doors for ladies and gentlemen to leave the dining room. Unchaperoned dates were not permitted, so tennis matches were the popular means of meeting gentlemen.
John Giles Sr. was born Jan. 22, 1895, in Loch Haven, Pa. Two brothers were born in the next three years--William Spargo and Arthur H. A fourth son, Richard Harold was born when the others were in High School. John's parents sent him and his two brothers to relatives in Hazleton to finish their High School years. John stayed with his Giles grandparents and his aunt, Miss Maude Giles, who was 10 years older than he, and was the Chemistry teacher at Hazleton High School. His brothers stayed with Spargo grandparents. Early in the school year John & Wm. attended a dance (John escorting his aunt), and met a girl in a red dress - Grace Neifert. Grace and John began "keeping company" and were married June 26, 1917. There was a quiet ceremony in the Eng. Reformed Church, attended by relatives and friends. They travelled to Pittsburgh by train to spend their honeymoon. John was deferred from military service due to an amblyoptic eye, so worked in a munitions plant during the war. Their first son, John Edwin Giles Jr. was born 3-10-1918 in Hazleton. After the Armistice the young family moved to Herrin, Ill. and John Sr. was an electrician in several mines nearby. Two more children were born in Herrin.
Robert Arthur Giles in 12-25-20 and Margaret May Giles in 9-29-22. The family moved to Orient, Ill and attended the local church, traded at the "Company" store and the children went to grade school. The year John was to start High School in the neighboring town, John Sr. joined his brother in starting a new business in Marion, Ill.
The family lived first in a rented house and later bought a frame bungalow on
Market St. In 1947 this house was moved to the lot behind and Jack built his dream house - brick English style. He was only to live there a few years. Grace still lives in and enjoys her beautiful home.
|
