R. Miles

R. Miles, or The Lancaster Clothing & Shoe Store, was established in 1901 by Robert Miles (c.1869-1922). Born in Russia, Robert immigrated to the United States around 1887 and initially lived with his brother Louis (d. 1914) in Baltimore, Maryland. There, Robert and Louis worked as clothing dealers before Robert moved to South Carolina in late 1900 or early 1901. Settling in Lancaster, Robert demonstrated a sense of humor when he placed an advertisement for his new store and light-heartedly addressed his accent, writing, “Now Den, Vot’s Dot? De finest Cloding dot ever you vore, You can find here in Lancaster in R. Miles Store.”¹ The following year, he placed another plithy add, positing “We don’t follow the Leaders, we LEAD the followers” just below the tagline: “R. Miles: The Bargain Giver.”² At the end of 1903, he announced his hesitance to continue operating in Lancaster and promoted a “reducing sale” leading up to New Year’s Day.

Sometime before 1906, Robert married Yetta (1873-1967). Together they had two children: a daughter who did not survive infancy and a son, Nathan Edgar (1910-1995). Nathan was born in Mullins, South Carolina where Robert and Yetta likely moved in 1904. Robert operated a dry goods business in Mullins until selling the store to his nephew, Benjamin Snyder (1888-1968) around February 1922. Three months later, Robert died by suicide in Benjamin’s store after shooting the younger man. According to a newspaper clipping, Robert “came to the store early this morning [May 17] for a settlement for an iron safe which he had sold to Mr. Snyder. It is alleged that Mr. Miles contended for a sum in advance of the agreed price and that the shooting followed in consequence of Mr. Snyder’s refusal.”³ Benjamin later repeatedly gave a statement suggesting his uncle was momentarily insane. At the end of the aforementioned article, the author noted, “Mr. Miles was regarded as a good substantial business man, always liberal to every worthy cause and ready to serve where needed.”⁴ Yetta relocated to Charleston after her husband’s death and later moved to Birmingham, Alabama with her son. The latter went on to become a prominent physician and member of the Jewish community there.

¹ “Now Den, Vot’s Dot,” Lancaster Enterprise, February 2, 1901, 1.
² “Welcome! Welcome!” Lancaster News, October 18, 1902, 3.
³ “Mullins Citizen Takes Own Life,” State, May 18, 1922, 6.
⁴ Ibid.