The inspiration for a new book about one of California’s early pioneers was born at the bar at Vladimir’s Czech Restaurant. Fredric Chiles, a Londoner who spends time at his family’s Inverness home, was having a beer with his nephew when the young man brought up one of their ancestors: Joseph B. Chiles, a man who helped establish American migration trails to California.
“He said he wished someone would write it all down, so he…