Biography of Charles Giles

This pleasing and popular gentleman is a leading member of the well known business firm of the Mohler Implement Company, which does a thriving business in Mohler, being the leading house dealing in hardware and all kinds of farm implements and vehicles.

Charles Giles was born in Cocke County, Tennessee, on February 28, 1865, being the son of Perrin and Rebecca (McGaughey) Giles. The father was a native of Tennessee, as also were his parents. He served in the Confederate army and died in 1895, aged seventy-two. The mother of our subject was also a native of Tennessee, as were her parents and grandparents, and several of her brothers served in the Union army.

Our subject was reared in his native place and educated in the public schools. When he reached man’s estate he went to western North Carolina and embarked in tobacco raising. Three years there and then we find him pressing his way westward, landing finally in Columbia County, Washington. There he operated in a saw mill, logged and farmed until 1896. The next year he came to the reservation, took a claim one and one half miles west from Mohler and settled to its improvement and culture until 1900. Then Mr. Giles rented his farm and embarked in the hardware business with Mr. Boozer. In January 1902, he sold his interest to his partner. About the same time Mr. Giles associated himself with N. T. Wright and A. G. Gross, and under the style of the Mohler Implement’ Company, they opened a fine establishment of hardware, implements and vehicles. They erected a large two story building, the upper portion of which is devoted to lodge rooms and hall, while the lower apartments are the quarters where they conduct their business. Since March last this firm has disposed of seven car loads of machinery, besides its trade in vehicles and hardware.

Mr. Giles is an active Democrat and well informed on the questions of the day. At present he is acting as central committeeman for his precinct and he, is a frequent figure at the conventions. He is a member of Echo Lodge, No. 60, I. O. O. F., at Mohler, being treasurer; also of the Mohler Camp, No. 612, and the Mohler Valley Circle of the W. W. Mr. Giles has one brother, Henry Giles, and five sisters, named as follows: Margaret E., widow of Henry Wright; Matilda, wife of John Odell; Charlotte, wife of Robert Crumb; Hester, wife of Andrew Mantooth; Elizabeth, wife of Matt Crumb, all in Cocke County, Tennessee.

On December 25, 1901, Mr. Giles married Nellie M. Coolidge, daughter of James and Rebecca Dennis, natives of Ohio and Iowa, respectively, now living near Mohler. Mr. Giles is a popular and well liked resident of our county and he is deserving because of his uprightness and integrity.

Source: An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho; Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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