An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 463-464 Z.C. MILES, one of the representative business men of Seattle, was born in Peru, New York, March 25, 1834. His parents, Orison and Samantha (Peck) Miles, were born in New Hampshire and New York respectively. Orison Miles was by trade a blacksmith, which occupation he followed in New York, Ohio and Illinois until 1864, when he removed to Virginia City, Montana, and continued the same occupation and was elected the first Justice of the Peace of Helena, that State. He was one of the original proprietors of the town site of Helena, Montana, and assisted in platting that town. He subsequently settled in Bozeman, Montana, where he now resides, still actively interested in the issues of the day and an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. The subject of this sketch began his business career at the age of sixteen years, as clerk in the general merchandise store of K.J. Hammond, at Plainfield, Illinois, and when twenty-one years of age entered the employ of his brother-in-law, George Wood, and learned the trade of tinsmith, remaining with him until 1850, which year marked the excitement of Pike's peak, and at which time Mr. Miles started for that country, taking with him tools and stock, and crossing the plains from Leavenworth, Kansas, with mule teams. Duly arriving he opened a shop at the little town of Aurora, now familiarly known as Denver, Colorado, and was among the first in that line of business in that town. After about two years he sold out and went to the mountains to try placer mining, but a few months satisfied him and he returned to Aurora and worked at his trade for George Fritch, now one of the prominent hardware men of Denver. Remaining up to April, 1862, Mr. Miles then joined a party of five and with all ox team started for the Salmon river mines, but after passing Fort Hall learned that the mines had failed; so returned to Fort Hall and then started for the Auburn mines of eastern Oregon, crossing along the north side of Snake river through the thickly populated Indian country, without serious trouble, and crossing Powder river near the present site of Baker City. The team was then sent to The Dalles for flour, while the balance of the party went to the mines. The prospects, however, were so poor that when the team returned they went to the Boise country, having great difficulty in getting away from Auburn as the snow had already commenced falling. Reaching the Payette valley, they went into camp for the winter. Securing logs from a drift on the river they built a log house and a corral for their cattle, as the Indians were quite numerous. They also started a little hotel, which was quite a success. They then conceived the idea of building a ferry to transport miners across the Payette river in the early spring. Purchasing a whipsaw from an emigrant, they manufactured lumber, making a rude boat; then by burning pitch pine secured tar, and by tearing up their old clothes for caulking, were enabled to make a rude boat quite tight. The wagon box was cut up to make pulleys, and by stripping up cow hides they made a strong rope, thus completing their outfit, from which in three months they cleared $3,000. As the river was getting low they abandoned their ferry, purchased wagons and oxen and began freighting from Umatilla landing to Boise, a distance of 250 miles, securing as high as twenty-two cents per pound for freight. They continued freighting about three months then competition so greatly reduced the profits that Mr. Miles sold out and retired from the business. While making his collections he stopped with one Goodwin at the point where Pendleton now stands and assisted him in building the first finished and painted house in that locality. Mr. Miles was a natural mechanic and made much of the furniture used by the settlers, also manufactured several sleighs and did quite an extensive business. In 1867 he went to Umatilla, and, in partnership with J.M. Leizer, engaged in the sale of stoves, tin and hardware, continuing up to September, 1870, when Mr. Miles sold out and came to Seattle, then a little hamlet sparsely settled. Entering into partnership with I. Waddell, who was running a little shop and stove store, the firm of Waddell & Miles was established. With the additional capital and enterprise of Mr. Miles, business connections were changed, and the stock was increased, but the town being too small to support many assistants, Messrs. Waddell & Miles did all their own work, both acting as mechanics, salesmen and bookkeepers. As business extended the stock was proportionately increased, always being kept a little ahead of the demand. Then the firm succeeded in building up a reputation, until they became the representative house in the Northwest, with a varied stock of plumbing supplies, windmills, mantles, grates and tilings, stoves, tinware, etc., the stock being valued at $7,000. In 1886 the partnership dissolved, Mr. Miles purchasing the entire interest and conducting it alone up to the fire of 1889, when his loss figured up about $50,000. He then organized and incorporated the Z.C. Miles Company, with a capital of $50,000. He was elected president and manager, and the company's building, 96 x 100 feet, three stories, corner of West street and Yesler avenue, is filled with an extensive and varied stock, a wholesale and retail business being conducted and the establishment being the largest of the kind in the Northwest. Employment is afforded to twenty-two hands in the several departments. Mr. Miles was married in Seattle, in July, 1891, to Miss Rosamond Smith, a native of Maine. Socially, Mr. Miles affiliates with the F. & A.M. He is a director of the Seattle Savings Bank; president of the D.W. Cross Undertaking Company; a member of the Highland Park syndicate, and one of the active, enterprising business developers of the "Queen City of the Northwest." Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.