Hi Susie-I am finally back after my travels and ready to share any info you want. Jarvis Hiles has an interesting history and I would have never found out what it was if I hadn't run into Lee Martin and he told us us the whole story, because there are not any records of him. He was the 7th child of Jacob and Sara, born near Hunt City, IL on 2 April, 1886. He was taken to the IL Soldiers Orphanage along with 5 siblings. In Feb, 1909, he petitioned the court to dissolve his brother Perry's guardianship over his. It was granted and he received $276.26 as his part of his parent's estate-his wife, Martha (McBride) Hiles was his witness (all in the court records)
Jarvis was working in the oil fields of Jasper Co. in August of 1909 when he got into a fight with a Jason McFarley. He was so badly hurt he was packed in ice so he could be taken for medical care. His body couldn't take the shock and he died on Aug 2, 1909. Lee took us to his grave, way in the back of an old cemetery. Twenty seven days later his son, Jarvis was born in Hunt City, IL--Martha was living at her parents home.
I know Jarvis Jr's daughter as she lives in a town close by--they attended many family gatherings when I was younger. She finished the story for me by telling me that her grandparents raised Jarvis as Martha left him there when she married Jason McFarley--yes, the same man that killed Jarvis!! Jarvis said McFarley didn't want him and that was why he never lived with his mother-he said he was a very mean man.
When the grandparents became too old to take care of Jarvis, Allen went to IL and brought him back to Ia to live with his family-he was near 20 years old by then. Jarvis married and moved to Jackson, MN where he worked on the railroad al his life. He was a very mild man and I remember him with a great sense of humor. He died at the age of 95 on 9 Sept, 2004
He did have a half sister, Fern, and she lived her life in IL. She was born on 18 March, 1920 and died on 28 Feb, 2006.
I was wondering what would be the best way to share all of my info with your father. I could easily copy the pages and send him sections of it by mail--would that be easier for him to read? I am not very computer savy, but can send things by email--just don't know how easy that would be to read. Just let me know as March and April are months that I have some spare time. In May my sister is moving back, my twin grandsons will graduate and planting season will be on ys. I don't work in the field anymore but am the official go-fer! So happy to have some one to share this with!! Give my best wishes to your dad. Doreene