C. O. PILES was born in Panhandle Precinct, Livingston County, August 7, 1849, and is a son of George C. and Rosa Cooley Piles. The father was born in Daviess County, Ky., in 1810; his people were natives of South Carolina, and cousins of the Calhouns. The mother was born in Columbus, Hickman Co., Ky. The father came to this county about 1833, with his parents. He made a settlement about five miles from Paducah in this county and turned his attention to farming. He died in January, 1880; the mother in 1850. C. O. is the youngest and the only one now living of a family of four children. At the age of seventeen he began clerking for T. S. Lee & Co., at Paducah. He remained there some time and then returned to this county, where he rode as deputy sheriff two years for his uncle, D. H. Piles. He then went into the milling business at Cairo, but only remained a short time, when he returned to Smithland, and served as deputy circuit clerk, under J. W. Cade, for about four years. He then went to Arkansas, where he remained about seven months. He returned to Smithland, where he remained a short time, and then moved to Pueblo, Colo., where he acted as deputy clerk for about one year. Returning to this county he farmed for about a year, and then made another trip West. He was absent about thirteen months. Returning to this county, he was elected to the office of circuit clerk in August, 1880, and is still serving. Mr. Piles was married in December, 1882, to Miss Maggie Handlin, a daughter of Judge I. T. and Rosa B. (Clark) Handlin. Mrs. Piles was born December 23, 1866, and to her and husband have been born one child—George H.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 829.