Judge Niles served one term as a member of Congress, having been elected as a Republican in 1875.

His son Henry Clay Niles is now United States District Judge for the State, having been appointed to that important position by President Harrison.

He was strongly recommended by many members of the bench and bar of the State; and the very able and creditable way in which he has discharged the duties of the position has more than demonstrated the wisdom of the selection.
The Chancery Courts as organized by Governor Alcorn and continued by Governor Ames were composed of men no less able and brilliant than those who composed the Bench of the Circuit Courts.

They were: J.C.Lyon, E.P.
Harmon, E.G.Peyton, Jr., J.M.Ellis, G.S.McMillan, Samuel Young, W.G.
Henderson, Edwin Hill, T.R.Gowan, J.F.Simmons, Wesley Drane, D.W.
Walker, DeWitte Stearns, D.P.Coffee, E.W.Cabiness, A.E.

Reynolds, Thomas Christian, Austin Pollard, J.J.Hooker, O.H.Whitfield, E.
Stafford, W.A.Drennan, Thomas Walton, E.H.Osgood, C.A.Sullivan, Hiram Cassedy, Jr., W.B.Peyton, J.D.Barton, J.J.Dennis, W.D.Frazee, P.P.
Bailey, L.C.Abbott, H.W.Warren, R.Boyd, R.B.Stone, William Breck, J.N.Campbell, H.R.Ware and J.B.Deason.