WILLIAM H. BILES. The best history of a community or state is the one that deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially those who, by their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed themselves where they well deserved the title of progressive men. In this class should be placed William H. Biles, who today is numbered among the enterprising and successful business men of Elco, Washington county. He is a native of Washington county, having been born at Allenport on the 14th of April, 1871, and is a son of Harrison and Harriet Ann (Watson) Biles. The father was born in Allen township, Washington county, February 22, 1835, and died October 7, 1917. He followed the vocation of mining, was an adherent of the democratic party and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a son of John and Mary Ann (Linn) Biles, the former of whom was a native of Maryland, followed the occupation of mining, was a democrat in politics and in religious belief a Methodist. Harriet Ann Watson was born at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1839, and died June 25, 1910. She was a daughter of James and Mary (Stewart) Watson, the former of whom was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He followed the dual occupations of boat building and stone cutting, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William H. Biles was educated in the public schools of Elco and after leaving school obtained a position as clerk in a store, where he remained twelve years. He then turned his attention to mining until 1918, when he established a general store at Elco, which he is still conducting and in which he has met with a very gratifying measure of success. He carries a large and well selected line of such goods as are demanded by the local trade and enjoys an excellent reputation as an enterprising and up-to-date business man.
On July 20, 1918, Mr. Biles was appointed postmaster of Elco and is still the incumbent of that position, discharging his official duties in a manner that has won the commendation of the patrons of the office. He is a democrat in his political affiliation and has taken a good citizen's interest in the public affairs of his locality, having served as a member of the borough council, tax collector for eight years, auditor for three terms, and clerk of the borough council fifteen years. In 1924 he was elected burgess of Roscoe. He is a member of Mason Lodge, No.252, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Biles is a public-spirited citizen, lending his efforts toward the betterment 6f the community, and he stands deservedly high in the esteem of the entire locality in which he lives.
On May 30, 1898, at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Biles was married to Miss Alberta Davis, who was born at Wood Run, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1875, a daughter of G. D. and Ellen (Mahlon) Davis. Her father was born near Zollarsville, Pennsylvania, and died March 3, 1899. He was a cooper by trade and a man who commanded the respect of all who knew him. He was a democrat in politics and a Methodist in religious faith. His parents were Joseph and Edith (Bumgarner) Davis, the former of whom was a native of Washington county, followed the trade of a cooper, supported the democratic party and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ellen Mahlon was born in Washington county, April 11, 1837, and died December 13, 1891. She too was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Biles, who was educated in the public schools of her home neighborhood, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Ladies Aid Society, the Missionary Society and the Daughters of Rebekah. To Mr. and Mrs. Biles have been born six children, namely: Edith Ellen, who was graduated from the Elco high school in 1918 and from the Southwestern Normal School at California in 1920, since which time she has been teaching, being now connected with the schools at Monessen; Harriet; William H.; Anna D., who received a high school and normal education, and is engaged in teaching at Elco; Iris Emma, who was a student in the Charleroi high school and is now in her senior year at the Southwestern Normal School at California, Pennsylvania; and Grace Dixon, a student in the high school at California.