Earnest Biles (abt. 1865 - 1930)

Born about 1865 in Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Sophia (Taylor) Rivers — married 28 Mar 1919 in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Mar 1930 at about age 65 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

Biography

Earnest Biles is a part of US Black heritage.

Earnest Biles was born about 1865 in Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee, in the United States of America. His father was Burk Biles.^[1] More research is needed into his early life.

In 1900 Earnest was living with wife Louise and 5 children in Giles County, Tennessee. They had been married for 13 years.^[2]

In 1910 Earnest was living with wife Louise and 9 children Quid Nunc, Limestone County, Alabama. ^[3]

Earnest married Sophia (Taylor) Lane on 28 Mar 1919 in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama. This was a second marriage for both of them. At the time of this marriage, Earnes was living in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama.^[4] They had one son, Warren Gerald Harding Biles (1921-1997).

In 1920 Earnest and Sophia were living in Quid Nunc, Limestone County, Alabama with 4 children from Earnest's first wife and a child of Sophia's by her first marriage.^[5]

By 1930, Earnest and his family had moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Earnest died on 31 Mar 1930 in Cleveland. He was buried in Highland Park Cemetery in Highland Hills, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.^[6]

Research Notes

• It seems clear that Earnest's children born up through 1910 were all from wife Lou/Louise/Liese. Son John born 1912 assumed to be from Louise, but no documentation on his mother. Son Warren born after 1920 was from wife Sophia (married 1919). Son Jasper born 1913 is recorded with father as Earnest and mother as Susie. Don't know if this was alternate name for Louise or a different person.
• Birth date: Earnest's death certificate says he was born about 1878, but according to his 1900 census he was married about 1887 and born about 1870. His 1910 census lists his birth date as about 1865. From these early census records, 1865 seems most plausible for someone who married in 1887 - he would have been about 22 years old.

Sources

1. ↑ Ohio, Death Certificates, #20171, Ernest Biles, 31 Mar 1931, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA; "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6CP-NSY : accessed 27 Oct 2022).
2. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 7, Giles, Tennessee; Roll: 1571; Page: 16; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 1241571
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #69939876 (accessed 23 March 2023)
   Ernest Biles (29), married, Farm Laborer, head of household in Civil District 7, Giles, Tennessee. Born in Tennessee, USA.
3. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Quid Nunc, Limestone, Alabama; Roll: T624_22; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0109; FHL microfilm: 1374035
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #34002 (accessed 23 March 2023)
   Earnest Biles (45), married, Farmer, head of household in Quid Nunc, Limestone, Alabama, USA. Born in Tennessee.
4. ↑ Alabama, Morgan County, Marriage Records (colored), 1919-1923 Volume I, page 44, Earnest Biles and Mrs. Sophia Lane, 28 Mar 1919; "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRVD-YYF : accessed 14 Jan 2023).
5. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Quid Nune, Limestone, Alabama; Roll: T625_28; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 115
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #1300088 (accessed 23 March 2023)
   Earnest Biles (47), married, Farmer, head of household in Quid Nune, Limestone, Alabama. Born in Tennessee.
6. ↑ Ohio, Death Certificates, #20171, Ernest Biles, 31 Mar 1931, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA; "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6CP-NSY : accessed 27 Oct 2022).

See also:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93165088/ernest-biles: accessed 14 January 2023), memorial page for Ernest Biles (1878–31 Mar 1930), Find A Grave: Memorial #93165088, citing Highland Park Cemetery, Highland Hills, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by CindyS (contributor 18484625).