Laban J. Miles (March 10, 1844– April 12, 1931) was an American
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with American Indian tribes on behalf of the government.
Background
The federal regulation of Indian affairs in the United States first included development of t ...
at the
Osage Agency for the
Osage Nation and
Kaw people.
Early life and family
Major Laban J. Miles was born at
Ludlow Falls, Ohio
Ludlow Falls is a village in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 175 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ludlow Falls is named after surveyor Israel Ludlow.
Geography
Ludlow Falls is lo ...
, March 10, 1844, to Benjamin and Prudence (Jones) Miles. He was raised a Quaker and on April 27, 1870, in West Branch, Cedar County, Iowa he married Agnes Randall Minthorn and together they had six children, Maude, Harriet, Theodore, Blanche, Oakley and Laura.
In 1882, Laban Miles' nephew
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...
came to stay for a year with his family at the Osage Agency. Laban's wife, Agnes Randall (Minthorn) Miles was a sister of Huldah Randall (Minthorn) Hoover.
Laban's parents went to work at the Osage Agency for three years in 1873, Benjamin as Superintendent and Prudence as Matron of the Government School there. In 1878, they returned to their positions at the Osage Agency for another five years. In January 1883, Benjamin Miles established a Government Indian School at West Branch, Cedar county, Iowa. A year later he moved the school to Lee County, Iowa and transferred the school to the Trustees of White's Manual labor Institute.
Indian agent
On June 24, 1878, Major Laban J. Miles was appointed by President
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes (; October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 19th president of the United States from 1877 to 1881, after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and as governo ...
as an
Indian Agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with American Indian tribes on behalf of the government.
Background
The federal regulation of Indian affairs in the United States first included development of t ...
for the
Osage and
Kaw
Kaw or KAW may refer to:
Mythology
* Kaw (bull), a legendary bull in Meitei mythology
* Johnny Kaw, mythical settler of Kansas, US
* Kaw (character), in ''The Chronicles of Prydain''
People
* Kaw people, a Native American tribe
Places
* Kaw, Fr ...
Tribes replacing Cyrus Beede. Major Laban J. Miles resigned on May 20, 1885, but on April 19, 1889, Miles was reappointed Superintendent of the Osage Agency and held that office until July 4, 1893.
[The Washington critic., April 19, 1889, pg 1]
Death
Laban J. Miles died at his home in
Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on April 12, 1931.
Notes
"Wah'kon-tah: The Osage and the White Man's Road" by John Joseph Mathews, University of Oklahoma Press, 1932 was written using Major Laban J. Miles' journal as reference.
National Historic Site Laban Miles House
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miles, Laban
People from Miami County, Ohio
1844 births
1931 deaths
United States Indian agents
Osage Nation