William Victor Miles, a farmer of Central Township, Perry Co., Mo., residing three miles northwest of Perryville, was born in 1851, one-fourth of a mile from where he now resides. He is a son of Leo and Martina (Moranville) Miles, natives of Perry County, Mo., born in 1811 and about 1810 respectively.

Leo Miles, who was born on the farm where the subject of this sketch now resides, was a son of Henry Miles, a native of Kentucky who came to Perry County at the beginning of the present century, and located on the farm now owned by Thomas Seemes. Leo was a stonemason at which trade he worked in early life, but after his marriage settled on a farm and afterward cultivated the soil. He died in 1876.

His wife, who was the daughter of John B. Moranville, died in 1881. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are dead. Those living are Mary C., John Frederick, William Victor, Leo Vincent, Mary Susan (wife of Dr. C. Moore) and Mary Elizabeth (wife of Richard Moore).

William Victor grew up on a farm and in 1878 married Mary Victoria Moore, a native of the county, born in 1858, and a daughter of Thomas J. Moore. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Miles located on his present farm. His first wife died in 1880 leaving one child, Leo Thomas.

In 1882 he married again, choosing for his second wife Mary Philomena Reed, a native of the county, born in 1858, and a daughter of William Reed. To this union have been born four children: Leonard Julian, Joseph, William, Clarence Victor and Clara May. Mr. Miles and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat in politics.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.