Career
Born in Kentucky, Chiles moved to Missouri around 1830 and fought for the United States Army in the Seminole Wars. He returned east in 1842 and subsequently led seven more wagon trains into At Fort Hall he met Joseph Reddeford Walker whom he convinced to lead half the settlers with him traveling in wagons back to down the Humboldt River. Chiles led the rest in a pack train party up the Malheur River and on south to via the Pitt and Sacramento Rivers.
Walker"s party in 1843 also abandoned their wagons and finished getting to by pack train.
In 1844, Chiles received Mexican citizenship and was granted the Rancho Catacula in Napa Valley. He operated a grist mill and a ferry across the Sacramento River.
In 1850, he also purchased part of the Rancho Laguna de Santos Calle. The area is the present day site of Davis.