He was born to Absalom Liles and Cynthia (Nelson) Liles. ( Cynthia possibly was married first to a Mr. Colinger; she was the daughter of Gannet Nelson and Jennie Kavanaugh). Joe and his siblings were raised by their grandmother, Nancy Liles, after the death of their father in the Civil War and his mother in childbirth, with his youngest sibling, also named Cynthia. The baby died at 8 months of age. He married Sarah Elizabeth Bell ( daughter of Levi Bell, who also died in the Civil War, and Nancy Ann (Busby) Bell Lawson) on 11-21-1878 in Newton Co., Ark. and together they had 12 children; Nancy Elizabeth Liles Cowles, John B. Liles, James Thomas Liles, Doctor Sevier/Sever "Dock" aka "D.C." Liles, Nora O. Liles Helt Tennison, Katherine A. "Katie" Liles Hill, Gertrude Marie "Gertie" Liles Hixson Cowles, William Liles, Ernest Liles, George Washington Liles and 2 who died in childhood. Joe was a farmer and he always had a general store. They lived near Hasty, ARK, then moved to Oklahoma, living in Stone Bluff, Haskell, Coweta and Inola. He is buried in the S.E. section, block 250,Lot 1. He and Sarah have no grave markers.

He was born to Absalom Liles and Cynthia (Nelson) Liles. ( Cynthia possibly was married first to a Mr. Colinger; she was the daughter of Gannet Nelson and Jennie Kavanaugh). Joe and his siblings were raised by their grandmother, Nancy Liles, after the death of their father in the Civil War and his mother in childbirth, with his youngest sibling, also named Cynthia. The baby died at 8 months of age. He married Sarah Elizabeth Bell ( daughter of Levi Bell, who also died in the Civil War, and Nancy Ann (Busby) Bell Lawson) on 11-21-1878 in Newton Co., Ark. and together they had 12 children; Nancy Elizabeth Liles Cowles, John B. Liles, James Thomas Liles, Doctor Sevier/Sever "Dock" aka "D.C." Liles, Nora O. Liles Helt Tennison, Katherine A. "Katie" Liles Hill, Gertrude Marie "Gertie" Liles Hixson Cowles, William Liles, Ernest Liles, George Washington Liles and 2 who died in childhood. Joe was a farmer and he always had a general store. They lived near Hasty, ARK, then moved to Oklahoma, living in Stone Bluff, Haskell, Coweta and Inola. He is buried in the S.E. section, block 250,Lot 1. He and Sarah have no grave markers.