Emma Hamilton Dancing

John Marshall Miles was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1887, to Giles Miles and Clara Miles. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Howard University in 1922 before coming to the Yale Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1925.

From 1926 to 1927, Miles taught social sciences at Talladega College. He was then pastor of Congregational churches in Anniston, Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee. From 1940 to 1950, he led a small, integrated congregation in Detroit, Michigan, where he also worked in the probate court. He was known for his work with young people, including through the Urban League of Detroit and the final church he served, Hartford Avenue Baptist Church in Detroit. He was married to Linnie M. Miles and they had one daughter. Miles died in 1959.