Piles was born near Smithland, Kentucky, the son of Samuel Henry Piles (d. 1904) and Gabriella Lillard.^[1] The senior Piles was sheriff of Livingston County, and later practiced law.^[2] Samuel Jr. attended private schools in Kentucky before studying law.^[1]

Piles was admitted to the bar in 1883, and commenced practice in Snohomish, Territory of Washington.^[1]

He moved to Spokane in 1886 and later in the same year to Seattle, where he practiced law.^[1] He was assistant prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district of the Territory of Washington from 1887 to 1889 and city attorney of Seattle from 1888 to 1889.^[1] He was also general counsel of the Pacific Coast Company from 1895 to 1905.^[1]

In January 1905, Piles was elected to the U.S. Senate.^[3] He served one term, March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1911.^[4] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1910.^[4] While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Coast and Insular Survey (Fifty-ninth through Sixty-first Congresses).^[5] After leaving the Senate, he resumed the practice of law in Seattle.^[6]

In 1922, Piles was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as Minister to Colombia, an office he held until 1928.^[6][7]

In 1891, Piles married Mary E. Barnard of Henderson, Kentucky.^[1] They were the parents of three children: Ross Barnard, Ruth Lillard, and Samuel Henry.^[1]

He retired from active pursuits and moved to Los Angeles, California, where he died in 1940. He was interred in the Lake View Cemetery.^[8][9]

Books edit

• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XIV. New York, NY: James T. White & Company. 1910. p. 389.
• Eskew, Stephen (2011). Crittenden County, Kentucky Obituaries and Death Notices. Vol. II, 1900–1905. Marion, KY: Stephen Eskew. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-304-08219-0.
• Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 147. ISBN 9780806348230.

Newspapers edit

• "Goes to Senate: Native of Kentucky Honored in Washington; Samuel H. Piles, of Seattle, is Elected on the Thirteenth Joint Ballot". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, KY. January 28, 1905. p. 1.
• "Election in Washington: U.S. Senator will be Chosen to Succeed Samuel H. Piles". The Times Herald. Port Huron, MI. Associated Press. September 12, 1910. p. 6.
• "Who's Who in the Day's News: Samuel Henry Piles". The Palladium-Item. Richmond, IN. April 27, 1922. p. 4.
• "Ambassador Resigns; Another is Appointed". Akron Beacon-Journal. Akron, OH. Associated Press. June 27, 1928. p. 1.
• "Funeral Conducted for Ex-Senator Piles". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. March 14, 1940. p. 41.

Magazines edit

• Connolly, C. P. (August 22, 1908). "Ankeney of Washington". Collier's: The national Weekly. New York, NY: P. F. Collier & Son. p. 16.

• United States Congress. "Samuel H. Piles (id: P000351)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Samuel H. Piles at Find a Grave