Benjamin Viles

A MUCH RESPECTED CITIZEN PASSES AWAY

Died at Prosser, Washington, at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 1908. Benjamin W. Viles, aged 77 years, after an acute illness which began Thursday morning. the funeral was held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the M E church, Rev. Rounds officiating, and services called out so many friends that the building was filled to capacity. Pallbearers were furnished by his comrades of the Grand Army Post, and the impressive ceremonies of that rapidly diminishing order were held at the grave at the Prosser cemetery.
Benjamin W. Viles was born in New Vineyard (now Anson), Maine, July 9, 1831. On the day he was 18 years old, July 9, 1849. he started West, traveling by way of Chicago to Racine, Wisconsin, where his father, Alfred Viles, Sr., was a pioneer settler. On the 9th of May, 1853, he married Emily Rock, whose parents had removed from New York to Wisconsin, in 1839.
In 1856, with his wife and two children, Mr. Viels remobed to the town of Bridgewater, Rice County, Minnesota, and ten years later, to Osakis, Douglas County, in the same state. He enlisted August 4, 1862, in Company C of the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. A few days later, before the command had been formally mustered in to the United States service it was armed with such weapons as the goverment had at hand and rushed up the Minnesota River as far as a steamer could carry it and sent against the Indian forces which had been slaughtering white settlers in the southren portion of the state. After reaching Fort Ridgely, details from the regiment were sent out to bury the victims of the Indian massacre near New Ulm and on Sudnay and Monday they found and buried the mutilated bodies of 68 persons men, women and children. Monday night the detail camped on Birch Coulee, and early Tuesday morning they were suprised and attacked by a large body of Indians. In thsi atack, before he could get out of his tent, Mr. Viles received a bullet along the back, as he was stooping, and it was struck by two more bullets while lying under a wagon. He had staggered out and dragged back three sacks of oats to pile up for a shield against the Indian fire, the last sack having three bullets in it when he finally had it placed. The would in his back toubled him as long as he lived, and he carried the bullet to his grave.

The campain against the savages lasted until the latter part of December, with more or less skirmishing. At that time Mr. Viles, who because of his wounds had been detailed as cook in October, was given a furlough and went home. Exposure to extreme winter weather, without a tent, had aggravated his troubel. He rejoined his company at Gleneoa, where it had gone into winter quarters, and abouth the middle of Febuary the troops were removed to Fort Snelling. At that post Mr. Viles was dicharged for disability in March, 1863, the regiment susequently going south and participating in many of the stirring events of the war. He was bur a shadow of his former self, and from that time forward was practically a physical wreck.

In the fall of 1887, a victim of asthma in its worst form, when it seemed he could scarcely live a day, He bade his family good-bye, and started for the far west in the hope of getting relief beyond the mountains. From the moment he crossed the divide there was improvment, and on reaching the end of his railroad journey he walked 18 miles to the home of his nephew, Eugene Gardner, then living in Oregon. He was later joined by his family and in April, 1888, They located at Walla Walla.

In March, 1889, they came to Prosser and settled on what is now the A.P. Knapp place, a mile east of town. They erected a board shanty 12 by 16 feet in dimensions, and "shingled it with big tin oil cans" brought from Walla Walla. Here they established a home, and began to see somethin gin the future besides the terrible trials and hardships which had been their experience for years. This place was sond some years later, and taking his family and a portion of his belingings, Mr. Viles moved to a half section of land he had purchased in the Rattlesnakes. With the advancing years he found ranch life too heave for his strength, and returned to Prosser in 1903, building and occupying the brick house in which he passed away, at the end of Sherman Avenue. The comfort he and his family enjoyed in the few years since that time were earned by half century of previous toil and struggle. Coming to Washington lengthened the life of Mr. Viles more than a score of years. Though never bery stong after coming here, he had little of his old trouble until the winter of 1906-7 when an attack of grip gave him a set-back from which he never recovered. He and his wife passed most of the summer of this year with their son Warren at Cove, Oregon, and returned but a short time ago greatly benefitted. A sudden cold, contracted a few days before his death, hastened the end for one of the most patient suffers who ever lived. While in an almost unconscious condition, a few hours before his death, he spoke of his mother and brother Alfred, both of whom passed beyond the veil many years ago.

To Mr. and Mrs. Viles were born eight children, of whom six survive. These were all with him at the end except Warren, the oldest son, who was delayed on his way from Oregon and reached his side tow hours too late. The living children are. Mrs. Anice M. Lyons, of the Rattlesnakes; Mrs. Alice M. Rogers of Puyallup, Wahingon; Warrens S. of Cove, Oregon; John Alfred, Clement B. and George H. of Prosser, There are also 30 living grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Eugen F. Gardner, of this city, is a nephew, amd Mrs. P.A. Durant a niece of the deceased. The family desires to express it's heartfelt gratitude to many friends who came forward in the hour of bereavemnt. They especially wish to thank those who eprived themselves of such flowers as the frosts had left that those beautiful token of love migh not be missing, and to the minister, the choir and the members of the Methodist Church.

It should be noted in closing that in his earlier years Mr. Viles was an exhorter of no mean ability in the church of that demomination, and was a faithful attendant upon its services until the infirmities of age prevented him form hearing sufficiently well to understand the words spoken from the pulpit. He was a man who made friends everywhere, who would never knowingly comit wrong, and who lived true to the land and as a father he was all that could be, never sparing himself if by any effort or sacrifice his family could be the gainers. As a friend, he was tue to death, and to this fact the attendance of so many at his funeral was conclusive testimony. The sermon by Rev. Mr. Rounds, coming rom an entire stranger and based on what few notes could be furnished, was a fine tribue to the memory of a good man.

Pliny A. Durant.


Viles Family
Seated: Benjamin Warren, Alice M. , Emily S. (Rock)
Standing: Anice Maria, George Henry, John Alfred, Clement Benjamin, Warren Slyvester Viles (Pam's GGrandfather)
Missing From Picture: Charles Hyrum Viles, who died of Scarlet Fever at age three, he is buried at a cemtery somewhere in Douglas County, Minnesota. And Elvira Jane Viles who married Cyrus Matthews.(Pam cannot seem to locate Elvira and believes she may have stayed in Faribault where she was born).

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