James K. P. Hiles, who during his lifetime was chairman of the township board of Dexter Township for 35 years, and who was well-known in the lumber industry, was born near Pontiac, Mich., May 22, 1845, son of George and Amanda (Brown) Hiles. He came to Wood County with his parents in 1856, the family locating at Dexterville, then known as Eagle Point. After attending the schools of that neighborhood and spending one year at Point Boss near Dells, he became associated with his father in the lumber business and, starting with such humble tasks as teaming logs and shingle bolts, he thoroughly learned all the details of lumber operations, including logging, rafting, and mill work. After his father built the railroad from Babcock to Pittsville and Vesper in Wood County, and to Lynn in Clark County, which was used for logging and freight and passenger service, he became general manager of the road. He continued in business with his father in this and other enterprises until the latter's death in 1896, and then formed a partnership in the lumber business with his brother, Frank P. Hiles. Their operations in Dexterville were discontinued in 1904, and James K. P. Hiles retired from active life. He owned at that time 6,000 acres of land in Wood County. His death, which marked the passing of one of the builders of the county, occurred March 21, 1915. Mr. Hiles was married Jan. 1, 1867, to Mary Jane Johnson, who was born in Waco, Winnebago County, Wis., Oct. 27, 1850, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Hiles were the parents of six children: George H., Samuel T., William, Catherine, Dexter, and an unnamed child who died in infancy. George H., who was born Sept. 17, 1869, is now foreman of road construction for Wood County, and a resident of Dexter Township. He married Mrs. Olive Hotchkiss, and has three children, Beulah, Edna M., and Pauline. Samuel T. Hiles, born May 10, 1872, is now a resident of Dexterville. He married Alice Daugherty and has eight children, Hilda, Ralph, Avery, James, Gerald, Mary Jane, Samuel and George. William Hiles, who was born Sept. 26, 1874, is a prominent farmer of Wood Township, following general diversified farming and dairying. His farm, in Sections 11, 13, and 14 of Wood Township, is a model of efficiency in farming. He married Hattie Braun and has one child, Dexter. Catherine Hiles, born Aug. 16, 1884, is now Mrs. Isaac P. Green, of Providence, R. I., and is the mother of one child, James B. Dexter Hiles died in infancy. James K. P. Hiles was a member of Pittsville Lodge No. 232, A. F. & A. M. The family faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. By virtue of his service as chairman of the township board Mr. Hiles was a member of the county board, and in these offices he set on foot many valuable projects carried out by the local government.

From: A History of Wood County, Wisconsin, pages 671-672 (1923)