Jim Hiles, a prominent rancher and stockman in this vicinity for over thirty-five years, died Friday, June 9, 1916, at the home of his sister, Mrs. F. E. Keeler, in this city, aged 76 years, 9 months and 4 days.

With the passing of Mr. Hiles goes one of the most widely known of the pioneers in this section of the country. He was born at Farmingham, Mich., Sept. 5, 1839. When a young man in 1856, he removed to Wisconsin, where he resided 20 years, and then left for the mining camps of the West. He spent a year in Nevada, then a year in the Black Hills, and about two years in Denver and vicinity. In Colorado he acquired a herd of 450 head of horses and in 1880, accompanied by Abe Parsons, who is now “Doc” Bird‘s right hand man, drove them to this vicinity. They turned the horses loose in the hills and the latter started back to Colorado, and it was several months before they were again all rounded up.

Mr. Hiles homesteaded a section of hill land in Hiles canyon, south of Gothenburg, and has been a resident since that time. He continued his interest in horses and for about ten years had several head of good running stock, which he entered in the western races between Omaha and Dever. Claude Delaney, at that time a light weight, was his jockey for years, and his faithful service in that capacity was remembered by his employer and rewarded at his death. Two of Mr. Hiles’ horses were famous in their day—“Kokomo Bill” in the one-half mile and “Pickwick” in the 1¼ mile classes.

Mr. Hiles added to his holdings of land from time to time, and at his death owned 3,640 acres, mostly valley land, on the south side. His wife, one sister and one son, Harry Hiles, survive him. Funeral services were held Monday forenoon at the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. C. C. Wilson. Interment was made in Gothenburg cemetery.

The Gothenburg Times 8(51):1 Thursday, June 15, 1916