The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

MILES, Alonzo (c. 1818-after 1870) and Martha (c. 1825-after 1870)

The earliest mention of Alonzo Miles in the Review dates to 1852, when James and Ellen White conducted meetings on his farm in Boylston, New York. He was an active layperson, raising small groups of believers both in the Boylston area and in Plainfield, Illinois, where he had moved by 1853. By 1854, however, Alonzo and Martha Miles became involved with the Messenger Party with its rejection of Ellen White's special role and criticism of James White's leadership. There is no further reference to Alonzo Miles until 1859, by which time the Mileses had returned to New York and had also changed their minds regarding Ellen White and the now-defunct Messenger Party. The Whites met Alonzo and Martha and ate supper with them in October 1859. Ellen White noted in her diary: “Brother and Sister Miles once joined the Messenger [Party], and turned from us and sought to injure us, but now they sob out their repentant prayers and beg God to forgive them.” As available church sources make no mention of the Alonzo Miles family after 1860, it is likely that they did not remain with the church. 1EGWLM 871.1

See: 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Alonzo Miles,” New York, Oswego County, Boylston, p. 188; 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “Alonzo Miles,” New York, Jefferson County, Ellisburg, p. 46; 1870 U.S. Federal Census, “Alonzo Miles,” Kansas, Shawnee County, Auburn, p. 1; James White, “Boylston Meeting,” Review, Sept. 2, 1852, p. 72; Alonzo Miles, “Dear Bro. White,” Review, May 26, 1853, p. 8; A. Miles, “Dear Brn. of the Publishing Committee,” Review, Dec. 5, 1854, pp. 125, 126; Ellen G. White, Ms 8, 1859 (Oct. 22 entry); SDAE, s.v. “Messenger Party.” 1EGWLM 871.2