Our Grandfather, Olin Ionis Chiles

Our Grandmother, Frances Elmore Haley Chiles

Our Grandfather, Olin, was a wonderful loving man who died in 1965

when I was a junior in High School.

Our Grandmother, Frances, was a brilliant historian, poet, and woman of virtue,

and lived to be ninety-eight years old.

(She was born:  November 28, 1886, and died:  January 4, 1985)

My Grandparents were known in their day for their expert knowledge of antiques

and for their lovely antique collection.

My Grandmother was the co-founder of the Antique Club in Lakeland, Florida,

which is still active today.

Poetry of Frances Haley Chiles

Antiques of Frances and Olin Chiles

Frances and Olin Chiles' Home,

1525 Gary Road

Lakeland, Florida.

This is the home where they lived most of their married life,

and the home where my Dad grew up!

Four generations of my family have shared many special times in this home -

My memories of this home are full of wonderful laughter, good times, & fantastic food!

Frances Elmore Haley was the niece of Champ Clark.

(Speaker of the House from 1911 -- 1919);

Olin had three brothers and one sister,

Alfred Sr., Lawton Sr. Herbert, and Nina.

The Chiles Siblings at a Family Reunion in 1949 -- Lawton Sr, Nina, Alfred Sr, Herbert, and Olin

Lawton Chiles Sr., wife Margaret - Nina, husband Steve - Alfred Sr., wife Cargill - Herbert, wife Bert - Olin, wife Frances

Some of the Chiles First Cousins in 1949 - from left to right -

Lawton Jr., Joe, Jim (my dad holding me), Alfred Jr., and Jeanette

Frances and Olin's only child, (my Dad),

Lt. James Olin Chiles, was a pilot in the Navy.

Lieutenant James Olin Chiles with his bride, Dorothy Lindenmayer Chiles,

and his parents, Frances and Olin Chiles, in December, 1945.

Frances and Olin Chiles were the Grandparents of

Charlene Frances and Diana,

and the Great-Grandparents of

Frances "Haley",  Robin, & Annaliese.

Frances Haley Chiles with her Great-Granddaughter, Frances Haley in 1983.

Frances' Father, (my great-grandfather),

Reverent Jesse James Haley,

was a respected and well-known preacher in his day.

Several of his works are published.

Born: Rockcastle County, Kentucky, March 18, 1851.
Died: Haines City, Florida, April 7, 1924.

Haley Family Picture taken in Birkenhead, England in 1892.

Parents:

Reverent Jesse James Haley

 Elizabeth Clark Haley, (the sister of Champ Clark)

Children:

From left to right: 

Sydney Clark (20) , (died of tuberculosis shortly after this picture)

Frances Elmore (6), (married Olin Ionis Chiles)

Jessie Julia Hampton (18), (married John Kerdais)

Ann Beauchamp (8), (called "Bee", married Robert G. Williamson)

and Helen (4), (married Roy E. Keagle).

(A fun note about this picture:

Frances' older sister, Jessie, was a bit rebellious.

Everyone was suppose to wear dark clothes for this family picture,

but Jessie refused, and insisted on wearing white!)

Four generations:  

Frances Elmore Haley Chiles, 

Dorothy Ruth Lindenmayer Chiles,

Charlene Frances Chiles Imholz, 

and Frances's Great Granddaughter, Frances "Haley" Imholz.

(Haley - the little girl in the picture - is now thirty the mother of four -- )

The fifth Generation . . .

Olin and Frances' Great-Great Granddaughter, Haven.

So the spirit of Olin and Frances Haley Chiles lives on and on.

Frances and Olin were proud of all of their nieces and nephews.

One of their nephews was Lawton Chiles Jr.

(Us Senator from 1970 -- 1989, and Governor of Florida from 1990 -- 1998);

Lawton began his political career in 1958 in the Florida House.

He served three terms as a U.S. Senator for Florida, from 1970 -- 1989;

and was the Governor of Florida from 1990 -- 1998.

"Walkin Lawton"

My cousin, Kay Hagen, has followed in her Uncle Lawton's shoes,

serving as the US Senator for North Carolina.

Frances Haley and Olin Chiles, my precious Grandparents -

who left us a wonderful legacy of integrity and love!