The roots of the Miles Family can be traced back prior to the Emancipation Proclamation in American History. The events of the times and circumstances of individual lives helped to shape the Miles Family as we know it today.

 

During slavery, slaves were bought, sold, worked, bred and shifted about without regard to family ties. In fact, this was done intentionally. However, families did exist. The love of the family and the desire to know your family did exist. It was into this atmosphere that a young girl named Julie was born.

 

As a young slave in the state of Missouri, she bore three children. One of her sons was named Julius and her other son was named Craig. Her youngest child, a daughter, was named Liza. Because she was a slave she was sold, taken to Alabama and force to leave her children in Missouri at a time when Liza was still a baby.

 

As a slave in Alabama, Julie had five more children. Their names were Julie, Matilda, Buck, Janie and Mariah she longed for and often talked about her three children that had been left behind in Missouri.

 

The emancipation proclamation was signed on January 1 1863, setting the slaves free. Some time after emancipation because mother Julie so often talked of about her three other children Mariah( the only child that could read and write) sent a letter by a fellow church member who was going to a convention in Missouri. The letter was to be read in every church service that he attended the letter itself was asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of these three people: Craig, Julius and Liza who were adults by then. To the reading of this letter, Craig himself responded. Mother Julie had already passed on, but this was the beginning of a great reunion among her eight children.

 

Some slaves were forced to continue as slaves for years after the emancipation proclamation was signed. Liza for example had been held captive by her slave master and forced to bear him three children .there names were Henry, Laura and Lola. Liza’s slave master often told her that if she tired to run away he would kill her, but her desire for freedom was great.

 

One night, one of her children became sick and developed a high fever. The slave master told Liza to go to the well and get some cool water for the child. Seizing the opportunity, Liza started running past the well and through the forest. When the slave master realized this he got on a horse and tried to catch her .Liza recounted how he came with in yards of where she was hiding before he gave up the search and returned but only half the battle was won because she had to leave her children behind.

 

Some time later, accompanied by a friend, Liza returned. She knew that the slave master usually left home at certain times. Therefore, she hide with her friend in the forest near the house and waited for him to leave home .after he left, Liza and her friend rushed into the house. One of the children became so excited that he merrily shouted “mama” and Liza had to

put her hand over his mouth to keep him quiet .carrying two children in their arms and leading the other child Liza and her friend walked over forty miles to freedom.

 

Liza later migrated with her children to Louisiana. With only one calf and a few chickens, she sold butter and eggs and bought land for twenty-five cents an acre. Later in life, she sold that same land for two hundred and fifty dollars an acre. At the time of her death, she was considered the richest black woman in Caddo Parish.

 

Jamie was born in 1852 and was eleven years old when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Therefore, all of her five children were born free. She remained in Alabama throughout her life and reared her children there. Janie’s children were named Elmo, Moanna, Fannie, Alex and Ranny. Alex Caldwell, who was affectionately known as Uncle Son, was the last survivor of that generation and he died in Hayneville, Alabama on March 15, 1984.

 

1876 was the year of the Centennial Celebration of the United Stated Declaration of Independence. It was the year that Mark Twain published The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It was the year that Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. But most importantly, 1876 was the year that Janie brought forth her first born and named him Elmo Miles. He was born on June 4^th in Lowdnes County, Alabama.’

 

Elmo was the eldest child and gained respect and confidence from the brothers and sisters at an early age. He worked at various chores on the farm, developing skills as both a farmer and carpenter, which would later be an asset to him and his family. In his early twenties, he found favor in a young girl named Rosa Logan, whose background was similar to his yet different.

 

Rosa’s mother Edie Jones, was born into slavery in Augusta, Georgia. When Edie was 5 she was sold and brought to Alabama. She had one child named William, because she did not conceive any more she was sold many times. Finally, at the age of thirty, she bore four more children and named them Ella, Charlie, Virgin, and Rosa, Rosa, the youngest, was born on May 31, 1886. She was the fourth child of Tom Logan Sr. Edie lived to the age of 106 and often told and retold the events of her life during slavery to her grandchildren.

 

Fannie, the only daughter of Janie was born in 1883. as the only girl, her primary chores were to assist her mother with the housework. Aside from this she also tended to the animals and the garden, which supplied the family with their food.

 

Fannie had a son, Craig Milton, when she met and married Virgin Patterson (who was the son of Edie Jones and the brother of Rosa Logan Miles). To this marriage eight children were born, Lawrence, James, Savannah, Prince, Mariah, Henrietta, Rufus and Virgin Jr. (Savannah and Virgin Jr. died early childhood.

 

Fannie and Virgin raised their children in a strong God-fearing home. Fannie though, soft-spoken, did not hesitate to punish her children when they had done something wrong. They instilled in their children to branch out from the nest and succeed in life.

 

In March 1938, Fannie passed away at the age of fifty-five. Virgin joined her in 1950. He had lived to be approximately seventy-five. They were prime example for their children. Though poor, they were able to show that love for one another can conquer all obstacles.

 

Dates on the birth and death of Ranny are not accessible at this time, but family historians do note that he was married to a lady named Florida. Between them, they had four children, Ranny Jr., Mary, Patty, and London. Ranny spent his entire life In Lowdnes County, Alabama.

 

1883 saw the birth of Alex (known as Uncle Son). Primarily a farmer, Alex did venture to Virginia and New Jersey for brief periods during his life. Alex married Sally Coleman. They had five children, Callie, Ben, Eula, Charlotte and Ola. Alex passed away on March 14, 1984. He was the last survivor of that generation.

 

The year 1900 marked the turn of the century. It was the year that Theodore Roosevelt was elected President of the United States and introduced his “Square Deal” to the country.

Above all, it was the year that Elmo Miles, (who had one daughter, Mary Sue), united in marriage with Rosa Logan. To this marriage, fourteen more children were born, Charlie, Cynthia, Etherine, Moanna, Frank Elmo, JANIE Lee, Marshall Field, Wheeler, Martha, Annie Mae, Cleveland, Seveland, James and Muffin.

 

The love of family and the desire to know family led to the day when Elmo’s first cousin, Henrietta (Liz’s daughter). Asked and received permission to take 7 year old Moanna, back to Shreveport, Louisiana with her. Moanna lived with Henrietta from 1916 to 1924, residing first in Louisiana and later in Los Angeles, California. During that time, Henrietta often talked about her mother and how she was reunited with her brothers and sisters.

 

Elmo and Rosa reared their family on a farm in Gordonville, Alabama, where they established a strong religious based atmosphere in their home. Elmo led the family in prayer around the breakfast table every Sunday morning. He served as a deacon in Old Bugohoma Baptist church. As a matter of concern for his family, Elmo never allowed his children to work as field hands for any white farmers. The things that Elmo and Rosa taught and the examples that they showed spread to the far corners of the United Sates as their children migrated from Lowdes County, Alabama to the north, east, west and south, taking with them the values that they learned.

 

Elmo and Rosa moved to Jefferson county,, Alabama in 1941. They were married for a total of sixty-seven years until Rosa departed this life on September 27, 1967. Elmo passed away on February 13, 1968, survived by nine of their children.

 

In honor of the descendants’ of Rosa and Elmo Miles which are as follows:

Fifteen Children