Riley, Pitkin A., abt. 1855-1925

RILEY, LUDLAW, BIGELOW

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

From the Rock Valley Bee, December 18, 1925:

Word was received here the first of the week of the death of Mr. P. A. Riley, who died Friday at Scott, Sask., Canada. Mr. Riley was a former resident of Rock Valley, having left here about twenty years ago, and since that time had resided in Canada. He was past 73 years of age.

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From the Alton Democrat, December 18, 1925, Rock Valley news:

P. A. Riley, a Sioux County pioneer, died at his home near Scott, Saskatchewan, Canada, where he went to take up a homestead about 25 years ago. He will be remembered by many of the older people, having lived here many years ago, coming when the country was still an open prairie. When civilization advanced here Mr. Riley decided to help settle up Canada and broke up many acres of Canada land now under cultivation. He left his family behind because of the rude accommodations of the new country and the poor school facilities of the frontier.

He was married to Miss Alice Ludlaw and to this union were born thirteen children, all of whom survive except Harry who died of influenza in 1917. Mr. Riley telegraphed his son “Arn” at Canton, S.D., on Friday, Dec. 4, of his serious illness and the latter left at once for his father’s bedside, Mr. Riley dying one week later on Dec. 11. Burial took place on Sunday at Scott. Mr. Riley was 74 years old.

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RESEARCH NOTES

In the 1880 U.S. census for Chickasaw Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa there is Pitkin A. Riley, age 26, a railroad laborer, born in Illinois, father born in [T.S.?], mother born in New Hampshire; wife Alice M., age 24, and children Mason W. (4?), Ettie M. (2), and Anna G. (1). Uncertain if this is him.

The online index (Ancestry.com) to the 1885 Iowa state census has Pitkin A. Riley, age 31, born in Illinois, now living in Rock Township, Sioux County. Also on Ancestry.com are birth records for several of his children, in which the parents are listed as Pitkin A. (or Pitt) and Alice Bigelow.

The 1900 U.S. census for Rock Township, Sioux County, has Riley, Pitt (indexed as “Pete”), age 46, born July 1855 in Illinois, parents born in New York, a farm laborer; wife Alice, age 44, born April[?] 1856 in Iowa, parents born in Wisconsin, mother of 14 children, 12 living; children (all born in Iowa) Mason (24), Arnold (21), twins Maud and Claudia (19), Mortimer (18), Harry (15), Willie[?], a daughter (14), Anna (13), Cora (10), Corrie or Carrie (8), Gladys (3), and Blanche (2); and father Alonzo, age 83, widowed, born Oct. 1816 in New York.

The 1916 Canada census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta has P. A. Riley, age 63, born in the United States, immigrated in 1906 and naturalized in 1909, living in Battleford, Saskatchewan, a farmer. It shows him as married and head of household, but no other family members are enumerated with him.

Iowa, Select Marriages Index on Ancestry.com (no accompanying image of the marriage register) shows Pitkin Riley marrying Alice Bigelow on 9 Oct. 1873 at Waverly, Iowa.