John N. "Jack" Riley 1865-1912

RILEY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/17/2014 at 20:22:10

Death of Jack Riley
Popular Rock Island Conductor Dies Very Suddenly
Stricken While on Duty
Died on Train Between Buffalo Center and Thompson Tuesday Night, January 16th
Dows Advocate – A sad and sudden death and one that has brought great sorrow, not only to the stricken family but to a large circle of friends as well, occurred Tuesday evening, when J.N. Riley, the popular conductor on the Germania and Dows passenger, passed away on his train while making his return run to this city.

Mr. Riley had been feeling rather poorly for a few days, but hardly thought it necessary to lay off. He complained when his leaving time arrived on Tuesday, and Agent McElhinney offered to make the run but Mr. Riley said he could make the trip. He felt badly when his train arrived at Germania and went to a drug store and called for something to warm up his blood. Some medicine was given him, which he took and on his way to the depot he stepped into a restaurant and drank a cup of hot tea. Before he arrived at the depot he commenced feeling badly, and had to be assisted onto his train. Before the train arrived at Buffalo Center he went into convulsions, and a physician was called to the train. He seemed slightly improved and the train proceeded. At Thompson two more physicians had been summoned, but he was dead. An inquest was held there, and a verdict, it is reported, was reached that he came to his death from poison. It is further reported that the physicians who were present will be here this morning, and that an autopsy will be held early today.

Up to the time of going to press the verdict of the coroner’s jury has not been made public.

The deceased was born and grew to manhood in Blackhawk county. He had been a railroad man for many years and for about four years past had been a resident of this city. He was a popular man in railroad circles and was much admired in private life. He was devoted to his family and his chief aim in life seemed to be for their comfort, enjoyment and the education of his children.

There are left to mourn his death, a wife, two sons, Bert, who is principal of schools at Clinton, this state, and Tom, who attends Cornell college at Mt. Vernon, and one daughter, Jessie, at home, besides his aged mother, two brothers and two sisters.

The last sad rites will be held from the Presbyterian church this morning, conducted by Rev. C.C. Brown. The remains will be taken to Cedar Rapids this afternoon for burial. The sympathy of all is with the sorrowing family.

Jack Riley was popular among the railroad boys. He had been with the company for twenty-five years and was considered one of the best and most accommodating railroad man on this division of the Rock Island. He made friends wherever he went. He was always pleasant and courteous. For many years he resided in Estherville and during that time was conductor on the Sioux Falls and Albert Lea passenger, moving to Dows four years ago. The many friends of the Riley family in this city extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved relatives.

We understand a post mortem was held by the doctors at Dows and his stomach removed and sent to Des Moines for analysis. The verdict of the coroner’s jury will not be made known until a report is received from Des Moines as to what the stomach contained. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, January 24, 1912)

Funeral of J.N. Riley
Dows Advocate – The last sad rites over the remains of the late J.N. Riley were held from the M.E. church Friday evening.

The service was conducted by Rev. F.W. Ginn, assisted by Rev. C.C. Brown. The Masonic order attended in a body. The last sad rites were attended by a large concourse of sorrowing relative and friends. The sermon by Rev. Ginn was most touching and impressive. The floral tributes were many and beautiful.

J.N. Riley was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, in May [12], 1865, and died January 16, 1912, on his train at Thompson, Iowa. He was the son of the late Thomas Riley, of Waterloo. There survive him his wife and three children, Bert, Jessie and Thomas, also a sister, Mary, of Chicago, and two brothers, James, of Omaha and Will of Cedar Rapids.

After the funeral services here on Friday evening, the funeral party accompanied the remains to Cedar Rapids, where the final service, conducted by Rev. F.W. Ginn, was conducted under the auspices of the order of Railroad Conductors. The body was committed to the vault in Oak Hill [Cedar Rapids] cemetery.

Conductor Riley was widely known as a man of kindliness of heart, a ready hand to help and possessed of a friendliness that drew people to him. The children were always his friends.

In his home he habitually lifted burdens from others and brought cheer and gladness. He will be greatly missed. It will be many a day before neighbors and friends will cease to look for the cheery face an the cordial greeting, and the memory of his kindliness will linger long in the community. The heartfelt sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved family in this hour, and the prayer is that the widow’s God and the Father of the fatherless may protect and give comfort to their aching hearts. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, January 31, 1912)

Conductor Riley Died of Poison
Thompson, Ia., Feb. 26 – Just what proceedings will now be taken with reference to the death of conductor “Jack” Riley is not known. The theory of the physicians that death was caused by poisoning has been fully corroborated by the report received from the Drake University, where a part of the stomach was sent. Strychnine was found in the stomach, according to this report.

No one who knows Jack believes that he committed suicide. No one knows of his getting this poison, so the question is about as mysterious as it was before the chemical examination of his stomach. When Riley went out on his run he was in usual good spirits. He was taken sick and went to a drug store and got some medicine and went back on the train, but he kept getting weaker and weaker and before his train pulled into Thompson he was dead. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, February 28, 1912)