This gentleman was truly one of the pioneers of Oakland County. He identified himself with it when its inhabitants numbered scarcely twoscore, and continued laboring for its interests until his death, when its population numbered nearly twoscore thousands. He came to Troy when it was a vast expanse of unbroken forests ; he left it when its fertile surface was dotted with homes, surrounded by farms fair and productive as were ever wrested from the stubborn hand of nature.

Johnson Niles was born May 2, 1794, at Richfield, Otsego county, New York. His father, Samuel Niles, who was a native of Rhode Island, and a private under General Greene in the Revolutionary struggle, was wounded in an action in that State ; and a brother of his held a captain's commission at the battle of Bennington, the sword he wore there being now preserved as a relic by the family of Johnson Niles.

Young Niles grew to manhood in the State of New York, becoming, in time, a citizen of Steuben county, where he was appointed to various offices of honor and trust, among them to the position of paymaster in Colonel Archibald Campbell's battalion of State militia, Governor De Witt Clinton having signed his commission.

In February, 1816, he married Rhoda Phelps, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, by whom he had a family of three children, Julia Ann, who afterwards became the consort of George A. C. Luce, Orange J., and George, at present the only survivor of the family. Taking his young family in the fall of 1821, Mr. Niles came to Michigan, and became a citizen of Troy the year following. He now began the life of a pioneer, and applied himself with great energy to make a home and a fortune in that then wild region ; and, although primarily a farmer, his enterprise led him to engage in business outside of this occupation. He opened a hotel at Troy Corners, and engaged in various mercantile enterprises, as well as other projects which were often more profitable to those associated with him than to himself. His was an active, stirring nature, which would never permit him to remain idle ; and he was always engaged in some project whose ultimate results redounded to the good of his fellow men. Being a man of more than ordinary intelligence, of resolution and ambition, Mr. Niles was born to be a leader among men, and was generally accorded this position in the Democratic party, of which he was a de- voted member. It was frequently remarked that no Democratic convention was complete without Johnson Niles ; and his presence inspired courage and enthusiasm. His political services, though not of a character to distinguish him abroad, were many and long continued.

In 1823 he was commissioned the first postmaster in Troy, a position he held without interruption until the election of General Harrison, in 1840. President Tyler re-appointed him, and he held the office until the election of President Pierce, when he was succeeded by his son, Orange J. In the fall of 1823, Governor Cass appointed him a county justice of the peace, and in 1831 re-appointed him for the term of three years. At the expiration of this service, in 1834, Governor George B. Porter renewed his commission, and he served as a justice until Michigan became a State, when he was elected to the same office for several terms.

In 1826, Governor Woodbridge appointed him a commissioner in and for the county of Oakland, and he held that office several years. In 1834, Governor Porter appointed him "inspector of provisions and fish in and for the county of Oakland ;" and at the expiration of his term commissioned him " inspector of wheat and rye flour, buckwheat meal, pork, beef, fish, butter, lard, domestic spirits, and pot and pearl ashes, for the district composed of the county of Oakland."

Mr. Niles was a representative in the first legislature of the State of Michigan, and subsequently served two terms in the senate. He was also commissioned mail agent by President Pierce, and held numerous town offices to his credit and his fellow citizens interests.

Mr. Niles was a Royal Arch Mason, and the Masonic compeer of General Cass, Judge Burt, Levi Cook, Benjamin Woodworth, and many others of that time. He died, after living a most useful, eventful life, on the 23d of March, 1872, and was buried with Masonic honors, the fraternity from Pontiac, Birmingham, Rochester, and Utica attending his funeral, together with a large concourse of citizens who deeply mourned his departure. Mrs. Niles died August 1, 1864, after a life of courageous devotion to the interests of her family and service to the community, who deposited her remains near the spot where she passed her pioneer life.