Robert Emmett Miles

By his granddaughter:

This is the story of Robert Emmett Miles, who was a Schoolteacher at The Morgantown Colored School, back in 1892 through the early 1900’s. I do know that Ms. Theresa O’Bannion Lewis Corum was one of his students, as she shared that fact with me, many years ago.

My reason for sharing this information with you about Robert Emmett Miles is because he was my Great-Grandfather on the maternal side of my family. 

Robert Emmett Miles was born in 1862 to Hester, a slave of Hedgeman Smith. Oral history states that Enoch Deneale Smith, Hedgeman & Susan Lewis’ only son, was the Father of Hester’s 4 children, who were Robert Emmett, William, Henry, and Anna. Henry Miles Sr. was the Grandfather of Brother Norris Miles, a lifelong Morgantown resident and Deacon of Mt. Nebo Church in Morgantown.

By the time Robert Emmett was 3 years old in 1865, all slaves were emancipated. Because of miscegenation laws, the 1870 census through the 1960 Civil Rights movement, never showed Black, White or Native Americans living, cohabitating or married in the State of Virginia. It did, however, list occupations of household members i.e., servant, farm workers, etc. 


I do not know where the name Miles originated with my family but in the 1870 Census the name was listed as Mills not Miles. Again, oral history states that Enoch never married and remained in close proximity to Hester and their 4 children on Wildcat Mountain in Fauquier County. Census records never show them in the same house. However, John Gott, a noted Fauquier Historian, stated that his family would visit Enoch in the same house with Hester.  


Census records and Freed Records show that there was a Freed Record of another Black Family named Miles in the county. I have often surmised that they could have been distant relatives or perhaps just admired by my Miles family, so they took their name. Living with their White Father and Black Mother, I imagine it was a constant state of fear as to what the future had to hold, with the laws that were in existence. Robert Emmett and his siblings were obviously educated by their Father, Enoch Deneale Smith as Virginia Black Laws stated it was against the law to teach any freed or enslaved Black or Mulatto, Reading or Writing. 

I do know that education was particularly important to Robert Emmett for after he married Kitty Welch and they had 5 children, he saw that they were all educated. Their children were Lillian who married James Barbour, they had 5 children and resided in Washington DC; Maggie who married John Timbers they had 5 children and resided in Ambler PA; Gertrude, never married, she became a nurse and lived in New York City; Carrie who married Mr. Blount had 3 children and lived in New York City; Ferdinand Alphonso Sr. married Bessie Toppen (my Grandparents) and had 5 children, and Marie married Porter Lennox. Marie was a Head Nurse at the Old Freemen’s Hospital in Washington DC.

My Grandfather, Ferdinand was the only son of Robert Emmett. He was sent to Washington DC to be educated and graduated from Howard University in 1917 as a Doctor of Medicine. Robert Emmett sold off some of his property to finance Ferdinand’s education. Ferdinand made Washington DC his home and owned 2 Drugstores where he made medicine and supplied the few other pharmacies in the metro area. After his sudden death, his wife Bessie continued to make his medicine and supplied his clients.

Ferdinand married Bessie Toppen and they had 5 children, Jeanne Barbara who became a Lawyer and practiced law before Supreme Court of The United States; Margorie Elizabeth, attended Howard University and was a Research Technician at Howard University and was working for Dr. Charles Drew when he died in a car accident, Marjorie went on to marry Dr. Colden Raines, alumni of Howard University. Bessie Naomi who married Harvey E. King of Sewickley PA (my Parents). My Father, Harvey was stationed on Guadalcanal in The South Pacific for 2 years during WWII and was sent back home on a hospital ship as he had Malaria and Hepatitis, they sent him to Walter Reed Hospital, he recovered and met my Mother at a Howard University Football game; Lillian Marie who married James Taylor, a Judge and The First Black Assistant Attorney for The State of Maryland and Ferdinand A. Miles Jr. A 20-year Veteran of the United States Air Force. 


If I had to list an occupation for Robert Emmett, I would list him as a Schoolteacher/Farmer. I believe as was the custom of the time, school was limited to winters and non- peak times of planting and harvesting.

Robert Emmett, a lifelong member of Mt. Nebo Church. Died in August of 1936, 7 months after his beloved son Ferdinand Sr. died at age of 36 from a stoke. My Mother always told me that Robert E. died of a broken heart after the loss of his son.

Robert Emmett’s legacy of education lives on today in his family. His direct descendants include – Doctors, Lawyers, Educators, Businessmen and women, Government employees (2 of his great-grandchildren worked for CIA) and Military, I do believe he would be proud.

As I look at the old Morgantown Schoolhouse, that my Great-Grandfather taught in, that my Grandfather learned in, that countless aunts, uncles, cousin, and friends were educated in. I cannot help but hold The Morgantown School but near and dear to my heart. The goals that we have planned for the schoolhouse are not our goals but should be the goals of the whole community for your past and present were a part of why it existed. As a Black People, we have lost so much of our past – please help us to preserve what is left.

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio (the North) every school I attended was integrated, they all had hot/cold running water and inside toilets, Black & White teachers and we had all the tools we needed to get the job done. Was I fortunate? or were you as you maintained strong and lasting relationships with those in the community that helped you tote wood, to keep the schoolhouse warm or those who went to collect water at the Spring, which Robert Emmett agreed to let the school use on his property, so they would have water to drink.

In closing, let me state that we have come a long way, but if it were not for those who got their education during the most adverse of times both emotional and physical, we would not be where we are today. My personal heartfelt thanks to each of you.

Karen King-Lavore
Miles Descendant
Oct 2022