Benjamin Franklin Giles
Benjamin Franklin Giles (Taylor) |
| Nickname: | Ben F. |
| Born: | November 6. 1896, Madison County, Alabama |
| Died: | June 17, 1971, Huntsville, Alabama |
| Buried: | Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville, Alabama |
| Son of: | John Washington Giles |
| Brother of: | Milton Columbus Giles |
Notes:
• Son of John Washington GILES (1858 - 1934) and Minnie Frank Power (1873 - 1955). - Ancestry.com 1
• Married Olene Virginia Williamson February 19, 1919. She was born Sept. 6, 1899 in Gurley, Madison County, Alabama and died Feb. 6, 2006 in Huntsville, Alabama. Her parents were Alfred Johnson Williamson (1867 - 1942) and Myrtle Inez Sublett (1876 - 1927). - Ancestry.com 1 & 2
• Father of a daughter named Virginia (1920-2011). - 1940 U.S. Census
• Ben Giles became a Standard Oil Distributor in 1931. - Record II
• STANDARD OIL COMPANY
The B. F. Giles Agency of the Standard Oil Company, located at Church Street and Wheeler Avenue was founded at the present location. This agency serves Huntsville and Madison County. Mr. Giles has served as agent since 1940 and Mr. William H. Stevens has been associated with the company since 1946, serving as manager.
The Standard Oil Company was one of the first oil companies to establish a distributorship in Huntsville. In the beginning the principal product for sale was kerosene. This was delivered throughout the County by mule drawn tank wagons.
At present the agency distributes Crown and Crown Extra gasoline, kerosene, tractor fuel, diesel fuel, mineral spirits, aviation gasoline, and the well known brands of motor oil, Esso and Mobiloil.
Persons holding the agency before Mr. Giles were Mr. Dell Kennamer, Mr. J. E. Macon, Mr. Tom Dark, and others.
The present personnel of the agency are: James Campbell, plant clerk; Mrs. George Sturdivant, bookkeeper; Leo Self, Robert Perry, Jack Towry, Milton Stephens, Louis Jennings, and Comon Daniel, tank wagon salesmen. - Taylor
• GILES COAL COMPANY
"The Giles Coal Company is owned by Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Giles. This company has been operated by them since 1934. At this time, the Giles purchased the company from Mr. Henry J. Certain who had operated it since the year 1901. The Giles Coal Company is located at 417 North Jefferson Street in Huntsville." - Taylor
• BEN F. GILES GETS IN RACE FOR SHERIFF
"Ben F. Giles, prominent and popular young farmer of the Gurley precinct, has cast his hat into the ring as a candidate for sheriff of Madison county, his announcement which is carried in The Daily Times being the second for that office. He is a regular democrat and is making the race subject to the action of the Democratic primary of August 12.
Gen Giles is known by everybody in the eastern end of the county and by hundreds in other parts of Madison and a large number of them are falling behind him to put him over if possible. They declare that he is going to make a good race." - Huntsville Daily Times
• Sheriff 1931-1935. - Record I
• County Board of Equalization 1945-1950
"A three member board, with its members being nominated by the County governing body; the County Board of Education; and the municipalities. Their term is for four years and they are appointed by the State Commissioner of Revenue. The 1940 Code of Alabama, Title 51, Section 88, describes their function: Their duty is primarily to review all assessments and to see that taxes are equalized." - Record I
• Home Guard was organized in 1942 and Ben Giles was Commander. - Record II
• In 1946, the American Legion bought the B. F. Giles home on Meridian Street for permanent quarters. - Record II
• Huntsville City Councilman 1924-26, 1926-1928. - Record II
• School Board 1930-31, Huntsville, Alabama. - Record II
• There are no minutes available for the American Legion Post No. 37 for January 1, 1937, through December, 1937, but Owen's History of the Alabama Department of the American Legion reveals that Ben Giles held the office of Commander during this period. In 1940, Ben Giles again became Commander. - Taylor
• Kiwanis member, Huntsville, Alabama. - Taylor
• The Huntsville Shrine Club was chartered on August 9, 1948. B. F. Giles was a charter member. - Taylor
• Ben Giles was on the Board of Directors for the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. - Taylor
• Huntsville Elks Lodge #1648
The Charter, dated July 16, 1942, listed the following officers and charter members, forty-five in number. Ben F. Giles was on the list of charter members.
Trustee 1942-1943, Trustee 1943-1944, Trustee 1944-1945, Trustee1948-1949. - Elks
Related Links:
• 1940 U.S. Census - Viewed through Archives.com
• Ancestry.com 1 - Page created by montana450 and can be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/18275767/person/911846904.)
• Ancestry.com 2 - Information on his wife. Page created by bunny 1941 and can be viewed only with an Ancestry.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8749833/person/1186284324.)
• Elks - Great Elks in Madison County?? You Better Believe It!! A History of Madison County, Alabama, Elkdom, by James Record, 1972, pages 14 & 52.
• Find A Grave - Page created by Heather; photo of grave added by Susan Bennett.
• Huntsville Daily Times - March 6, 1930, Abstract contributed by klstacy home.
• MCRC - Madison County Records Center
• Record I - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume I, by James Record, 1970, page 169, 272.
• Record II - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume II, by James Record, 1978, pages 243, 253, 265, 471, 472.
• Taylor - Commemorative Album, Celebrating our City's Sesquicentennial of Progress, Huntsville, Alabama, by James E. Taylor, General Chairman, 1955, pages v, 38, 194, 202, 218, 268, 335, 339.
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• John Washington Giles
• Milton Columbus Giles
• Record I
• Record II
• Taylor