Riley, Robert L. 1834-1905

BRINEY, HARRIS, TRIPP, RILEY

Posted By: Gary R. Hall (email)
Date: 10/25/2008 at 12:36:01

Robert L. Riley was born in Seneca County, New York, March 12, 1834, a son of Robert and Minerva (Tripp) Riley, natives of New York. When he was twenty years old, his parents moved to Adams County, Wisconsin, and later to Jackson County, where the father died at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother age seventy-nine years. Robert remained with his parents until manhood.

He was married April 21, 1857 to Eliza Harris, a native of Fulton County, Illinois, Daughter of J. M. and Rosetta (Briney) Harris, the father a native of Canada and the mother of Ohio. The father died in Christian County, Missouri, age sixty-eight years, and the mother lived in Boulder City, Colorado.

In 1859, he came to Hamilton County and located in the eastern portion, where he kept a stage coach station during the Civil War. In 1866, he located to a farm, section 7, Hamilton Township, Hamilton County, Iowa, on which was a small house and a small garden patch. Here he had added substantial improvements, and had a good homestead and was counted among the enterprising and influential citizens of the township.

In politics, Robert had never adhered strictly to any party. He served as township clerk and for eleven years, had been a member of the school board.
Offices held:
Constable 1874-1876
Township Clerk 1880-1884

Robert and Eliza Riley had elevin children: Emmett L., Frank D., Herbert E., Edwin L., Fred S., Inez R., Mary E., Jay S., Laura M., Mattie O., and Ruby L..