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The ancestors of Don L. Biles came to America in the late 1600’s, searching for religious freedom which was not allowed in England. Records show that William Biles, born 1644, brought his wife, Joanna, born 1646, two sons, three daughters, a brother, Charles and two indentured servants: a man to serve eight years and a woman to serve seven years. These immigrants came from All Saints Parish, Dorchester, Dorset County, England. They lived briefly in the Colony of New Jersey, then moved across the Delaware River into what became Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This second residence was established on June 4, 1679.
Three more daughters were born in America. The mother of these children died on July 4, 1687. The father’s second marriage was to a widow, Jane Atkinson, on October 11, 1688. She was buried on October 21, 1709. He died on March 19, 1710.
William Biles became an extensive landowner. He was also a Quaker minister. He was influential in the legal and political affairs of the Colony of Pennsylvania, being well qualified for such work by his formal education. The records of Exter College in Cornwall, England, show that he earned a B.A. degree in 1660 and his M.A. degree in 1667.
When British rule became too oppressive in Pennsylvania, many of the Biles descendents, along with other colonists, sought new homes farther south. By the mid 1700’s, many of their families were living in the fertile valley of the Yadkin River in Rowan County, North Carolina. As resistance to English tyranny grew, many of the Biles men joined a military association or gave support to the armed forces through currency and supplies. For such acts, some were disowned by the Quakers, who opposed violence. As a result, many became affiliated with other denominations, but no doubt retained the principles of their original faith.
From this North Carolina settlement, the Biles descendents spread south and west during the decades that followed. In addition to being landowners, many were teachers, preachers, doctors and legal advisors. They also possessed skills such as surveyors, weavers, tailors, printers, gunsmiths and wheelwrights. In their movement toward new frontiers, the Biles families carried with them the faith and determination to establish churches of their respective religious convictions. They also brought seeds and plants for orchards, vineyards and flower gardens, some of which still bloom and bear in the late 1900’s.
Pleasant Henderson Biles was born in North Carolina September 11, 1817. The date of his westward migration is not known, but the record of his marriage places him in Carroll County, Mississippi on February 10, 1848. His wife was Emaline H. Skelton, born in Alabama on July 31, 1825. He died on July 19, 1893 and was buried at Saran Church, Durant, Holmes County, Mississippi.
Emaline Skelton Biles left Mississippi at an undetermined date and brought four children to live in Roanoke, Denton County, Texas. After her husband’s death, his timberland was sold and the proceeds, in silver dollars, were shipped by express to his family in Roanoke.
Henry Alexander Biles, born May 16, 1851, eldest child of this family, attended college one year in Mississippi and another year at Huntsville Normal School, after moving to Texas. He was the first teacher at Roanoke. He also taught at Grapevine and Mt. Gilead and spent twelve years in the grocery business at Roanoke.
On April 15, 1885, he was married to Emma Elgin Barnett, born on November 26, 1864, the daughter of William B. and Eliza Jane Reed Barnett. He and his wife became the parents of four children. Oscar Lee, born on March 15, 1886, died eighteen months later on October 13, 1887 and was buried in Medlin Cemetery near Roanoke. The other children were Arthur Quincy, born on February 6, 1888; Don Leon, born on
July 8, 1890; Iola Laurine, born on October 11, 1894.
When the youngest child was eight months old, the family moved to a farm five miles north east of Keller. Here the father built a thriving nursery business which kept him happily and profitably employed.
The Biles children attended nearby schools, first Possum Trot then Mt. Gilead. They walked to and from school and carried lunches. Their dogs, Bum and Rip, made the daily trip with them. Occasionally the children arrived late at school always with the same legitimate excuse that they had to wait while Bum and Rip chased a rabbit or killed a snake.
Iola, who was a small child, remembers the tiresome days at Mt. Gilead school where her desk was much too high for her. Adding to her discomfort, she sat on an organ stool, too tall for her feet to touch the floor. After such a trying day, the three mile walk home was a welcome experience. As the children completed the grades taught at Mt. Gilead, they transferred to Keller. Because of the added mileage, they used a horse and buggy for transportation. At that time the Keller School was only ______ grades, so the Biles children finished high school at Roanoke.
Being Baptists, the family attended church at Mt. Gilead and later at Keller. Itinerant preachers often spent the week end in the Biles home.
The mother of these children passed away on December 30, 1920 and the father on July 12, 1923. Both are buried in Medlin Cemetery.
Their farm has been sold and resold during the years that have passed. Now, in 1980, it is becoming a residential development. It is interesting to note that a few Crepe Myrtle shrubs, remnants of the once thriving nursery, are still found in the area.
The children of Henry Alexander and Emma Elgin Barnett Biles married as follows: On July 19, 1920, Arthur Quincy was married to Ina Allison, born on May 16, 1903, the daughter of Henry Loyd and Jennie Hern Allison of Walker, Missouri. The Arthur Biles family lived in Oklahoma. Three children were born to this union; Jennie Elgin, born on October 2, 1921; Edith Laurine, born on April 16, 1924; Arthur Allison, born on September 3, 1925. The father of these children died on May 9, 1951 and was buried in Medlin Cemetery.
While Don Leon attended school in Keller, he became acquainted with this sister’s good friend, Nora Price, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Allen Price. Friendship ripened into love and they were married on November 24, 1915. For several years, Don operated the Price farm which joined Keller on the west. He also owned and operated a service station where the Kyle Drug Store stands now. Perhaps there are some residents who remember Kaizer, the large German Shepherd dog, who made a daily trip from the farm to the station to bring a basket lunch to Don.
Don and Nora were the parents of one son, Don L. Jr. Nora passed away on October 26, 1963. Don died on October 12, 1972. Both are buried in Bourland Cemetery.
Don L. Jr. was graduated fro Keller High School and from North Texas State University at Denton. He was married first to Alice Ann Armstrong on December 25, 1950 and second to Nancy Bartlett. Children of the first marriage are Don Leon III, born on November 12, 1951; Andrew Montgomery, born on February 1, 1953; Thomas Roderick, born on May 15, 1957.
Iola Laurine was married on January 10, 1921 to Thomas Dunn (Kelley) Lester, born on August 9, 1892. He was a pharmacist. During their residence in Roanoke, two daughters were born, Iola Faye on October 3, 1922 and Imogene on October 6, 1925. In 1936, the family moved to Bridgeport where they owned and operated a drug store. In 1954, they bought a home and another drug store in Azle. Kelley passed away on August 12, 1967 and was buried in Azleland memorial Park. Iola lived in the family residence at 129 Denver Trail in Azle. She died on August 17, 1977.
The older daughter, Iola Faye, attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton and Brantley Draughen College in Fort Worth. On January 5, 1947, she was married to John Edward Burt Jr., born on February 2, 1919. They are parents of three children; Lisa Ann, born on August 18, 1956; Amye Jean, born on April 27, 1960; John Edward Burt III, born on February 15, 1963.
Imogene was graduated from Texas Christian University where she majored in Art. She was married on November 10, 1946 to Harman Bishop Standefer, born on January 26, 1918. Their son is Thomas Bishop Standefer, born on August 30, 1959.
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