I'm also researching the surname Giles during the late 1800's around Cobden and Wolf Lake areas. And thought I'd add my 2 cents about the libraries.... The Genealogical Society of Southern Illinois has it's collection located at the John A Logan College Library, Carterville, IL and is open for research during normal library hours and on meeting days. The books do not circulate so they're always available to do research with. However, unless you go there during one of the days the Society meets there, you will be on your own doing research. The John A Logan librarians are not knowledgeable of what is housed in the genealogy collection. If you want more information on GSSS, here's their link http://www.jal.cc.il.us/gssi.html If you want more information on this library, here's their link http://www.jal.cc.il.us/lrc.html Hope this helps, and if there's anybody researching GILES please let me know. Thanks, Melinda