Created by Brian

Benjamin Warren Viles

Birth

9 Jul 1831

Somerset County, Maine, USA

Death

26 Sep 1908 (aged 77)

Prosser, Benton County, Washington, USA

Burial

Prosser Cemetery

Prosser, Benton County, Washington, USA

Memorial ID

29403286

Prosser Bulletin September 30, 1908

A MUCH RESPECTED CITIZEN PASSES AWAY

Benjamin W. Viles, old soldier and well known resident, answers the final call.

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 funeeral 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 for the West, traveling by way of Chicago to Racine, Wisconsin. He worked for a short time in Chicago and other localities in Illinois, and finally located in Walworth County, 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. Viles removed 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 into the United States service it was armed with such weapons as the government 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 southern portion of the state. After reaching Fort Ridgeley, details from the regiment were sent out to bury the victims of the Indian massacre near New Ulm and on Sunday and Monday they found and buried mutilated bodies of 68 persons, men, women and children. Monday night the detail camped on Birch Coolle, and early Tuesday morning, August 19th, Mr. Viles received a bullet along the back, as he was stooping, and it was supposed he was killed, word being sent to his family to that effect. He rallied, however, and later in the day 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 wound in his back troubled him as long as he lived, and he carried the bullet to his grave.

The campaign 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 trouble. He rejoined his company at Gleneoa, where it had gone into winter quarters, and about the middle of February the troops were removed to Fort Snelling. At that post Mr. Viles was discharged for disability in March, 1863, the regiment subsdequently going south and participating in many of the stirring events of the war. He was but 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 improvement, 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 x 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 something in the future beside the terrible trials and hardships which had been their experience for years. This place was sold some years later, and taking his family and a portion of his belongings, Mr. Viles moved to a half section of land he had purchased in the Rattlesnakes. With the advancing years he found ranch life too heavy for his strength, and returned to Prosser in 1903, building and occupying the brick house in whicb he passed away, at the end of Sherman Avenue. The comforts he and his family enjoyed in the few years since that time were earned by a half century of previous toil and struggle. Coming to Washington lengthened the life of Mr. Viles more than a score of years. Though never very strong 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 sufferers 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 two hours too late. The living children are: Mrs. Anice M. Lyons, of the Rattlesnakes; Mrs. Alice M. Rogers of Puyallup, Washington; Warren S. of Cove, Oregon; John Alfred, Clement B. and George H., of Prosser. There are also 30 living grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Eugene F. Gardner, of this city, is a nephew, and Mrs. P. A. Durant a niece of the deceased.

The family desires to express its heartfelt gratitude to the many friends who came forward in the hour of bereavement. They especially wish to thank those who deprived themselves of such flowers as the frosts had left that those beautiful tokens of love might 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 denomination, and was a faithful attendant upon its services until the infirmities of age prevented him from hearing sufficiently well to understand the words spoken from the pulpit. He was a man who made friends everywhere, who would never knowingly commit a wrong, and who lived true to the land and as a father he was all that man could be, never sparing himself if by any effort or sacrifice his family could be the gainers. As a friend, he was true to death, and to this fact the attendance of so many at his funeral was conclusive testimony. The sermon by Rev. Mr. Rounds, coming from an entire stranger and based on what few notes could be furnished, was a fine tribute to the memory of a good man.

Pliny A. Durant Prosser, Wash., Sept. 28, 1908

Born at New Vineyard, Franklin County, Maine. Married, a farmer and resident of Cannon City, Rice County, Minnesota when he enlisted. Enlisted and mustered in the same day at Cannon City, Minnesota. Discharged for disability at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. After his service he returned to Cannon City but by 1870 was a resident of Osakis, Douglas County, Minnesota where he farmed. By 1890 he relocated to Lone Tree Precinct, Yakima County, Washington where he continued farming. About 1903 he retired at Prosser, Benton County, Washington. He was a charter member of Maj. Johnson Post No. 114 at Prosser, Washington, serving the Post as Officer of the Guard in 1904. He died at Prosser, Washington. Benjamin W. Viles Residence was not listed; 31 years old. Enlisted on 8/4/1862 at Bridgewater County, MN as a Private. On 8/4/1862, he mustered into "C" Co. Minnesota 6th Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 1/30/1863 Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.: Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-65 Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866 © Historical Data Systems, Inc. www.civilwardata.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29403286/benjamin_warren-viles 46.20475, -119.75415

Buried at Prosser Cemetery
Row: Cemetery Lot Blk 22 Cemetery Section Lot 2