Miles Jacob Rhyne was born 17 March 1847 at Mount Holly in Gaston County, NC to Moses Hoffman and Margaret Elizabeth Hoffman Rhyne, their middle child of seven. Miles was attracted to farming from an early age. Too young to participate in the Civil War engaging the region, he remained at home while his older brothers, Alfred Moses and Abel Peterson, went away to war. When Miles became age 21, he received support from his parents to purchase 300 acres of land in Lincoln County near Mariposa. He built a seven room house on the property, a house still standing in 2010. In 1872, Miles married Julia Monica Bollinger, a neighbor from Mariposa and a first cousin (with common ancestor Jacob Rhyne III). Together, thay had 9 children, 8 sons and 1 daughter. However, Julia died prematurely in 1896 at the age of 43. At the time of Julia's death, their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was age 16 so she became the center of the household. Four years later, in December 1900, Miles married a second time to Julia Anne Abernethy Kennedy, called Annie. She had previously been married to John Kennedy who had died and left her with two children. After their marriage, Annie and Miles had two more children, sons Paul Eugene and J. D. Seven years after J.D.'s birth, Miles died. He is buried at Christ's Lutheran Church Cemetery where he belonged for many years.

Although his name was spelled Miles, he was generally called Milas Rhyne. Milas was the only child of Moses Rhyne to depend on farming for his living. His other brothers and his sisters' husbands all entered the textile business and achieved some notariety as successful businessmen. One brother, Daniel Efird Rhyne, became sufficiently wealthy and generous to have Lenoir-Rhyne college named for him. Five sons of Milas, George, Wert, Preston, Eugene and J.D. all attended Lenoir-Rhyne College, liberally helped by their Uncle Daniel Efird.