The Battle of the Thames (Filson Club Publications #18)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #12)
p. 133 - 135
GENERAL DAVID CHILES
David Chiles, who commanded the second brigade in Governor Shelby's army, was born in Virginia, August 23, 1767, and migrated to Kentucky prior to 1790. He came with some means, and purchased an estate near the town of Minerva, in Mason County, close to the Bracken County line. From the profusion of cane found on his place he called it 'Caneland'. It is the highest point between Vanceburg and Newport, Kentucky.
On the 10th of February, 1791, he married Frances, the daughter of Reverend Louis Craig, and with her received a dowry of land which gave him nearly 1500 acres as his possession. He built a mill and distillery on Raccoon Branch of Bracken Creek, and was extremely prosperous. He held no office, but was a man of great intelligence and courage, and commanded in a high degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was a militia officer in Mason County, and promptly responded to Governor Shelby's call for troops. Mason County sent three companies, and Greenup, Nicholas, Bracken, and Campbell had so strongly volunteered Governor Shelby thought it due this section to have a brigadier-general, and David Chiles was appointed to that position.
He is buried on his own farm, having provided in his will for the erection of a stone wall about the family burying-ground. A plain slab with his name, the dates of his birth and death, constitutes the monument that marks his grave. He died in 1834.