O.L. STILES, Trustee of Halbert Township, Martin County, was born in Guernsey County, O., November 22, 1852. He is descended from the Stiles of the Old Bay State, his grandfather, Jonathan Stiles, being born in that State. He emigrated to Ohio before the Indians were driven from that State and even participated in the wars that followed white invasion of the country west of the Alleghanies [sic], besides being in the Federal armies our second war with England. His son Lewis, born 71 year ago, in that locality, is the father of our subject. He came to Indiana and to Martin County in 1864 and died here in April of 1892. He was a farmer in moderate circumstances, was a Democrat but no politician. He married Susana Barnes, who bore him: Susana, O.L., Harlan, Byron, Lewis, George, Lucinda and Viola.

O.L. Stiles was confronted in his youth with the same conditions experienced by a majority of the youth of the country, long hours for work and short hours for school. He remained loyal to his father and left his fireside only when he married and became the head of a family of his own. October 19, 1876, he took for his wife Annie Mertz, daughter of Frank Mertz, a Frenchman. They located upon a farm near the town of Shoals and resided in the country till 1888, when he disposed of his surplus stock and became a citizen of this place. He plants and tends a crop each year yet, but much of his time is consumed in the proper conduct of the office of Trustee.

Mr. and Mrs. Stiles’ children are: Adelia, Ida, Myrtle, Orville, Bernard and Walter. Mr. Stiles was elected Trustee by the Democrats in November of 1894, and took his office the following August. He is making a faithful and careful officer.

Page 38, "Living Leaders An Encyclopedia of Biography.  Special Edition.  Daviess and Martin Counties, Indiana"  American Publishing Company, 1897