James Oliver Riley (1829 - abt. 1865)

Born 24 Nov 1829 in Delaware Township, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Brusha) Miller — married 25 Sep 1849 in Pickaway, Ohio

Descendants

Died about 1865 at about age 35 in Nebraska, United States

Biography

James Oliver Riley was born on 24 Nov 1829 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA as the third child of John Thomas Riley and Catherine Richards. He had four siblings, namely: William, John Richards, Mary A., and Peter. He died before 1868 in Holt, Missouri, USA. When he was 19, he married Mary Margaret Brusha,daughter of Joseph Brusha and Nancy Spencer, on 25 Sep 1849 in Pickaway, Ohio, USA.

James Oliver Riley lived in Stoney Creek, Randolph, Indiana, USA in 1840. He lived in Jackson, Pickaway, Ohio, USA in 1850. He lived in Salem Precinct, Richardson, Nebraska, United States in 1860 (Residence Post Office: Salem). He served in the military on 11 Nov 1862 in Falls City, Richardson, Nebraska, USA.

Shortly after he returned home family lore has it that he was murdered. He was said to have been hung in a tree near his home by a gang that did not approve of his service in the army.

He was buried in 1864 in Table Rock, Pawnee, Nebraska, United States of America. He served in the military in Dyer, TN. He was also known as James Reily. He lived in Falls City, Nebraska. FamilySearch ID: (LJHB-5G2) LifeSketch: (From Find a Grave in regards to James Riley: married Margaret Brusha, 25 Sept 1849, Pickaway County, Ohio. They were listed on the 1850 census in Pickaway County. In about 1858 he moved his young family to the Nebraska Territory. James and his bro)

James Oliver Riley and Mary Margaret Brusha had the following children:

• Mary Catherine Riley was born on 24 Feb 1851 in Pickaway County, Ohio, USA. She died on 01 Aug 1931 in Huntington Park, Los Angeles, California, USA. She married Andrew Miller on 13 Dec 1866 in Holt County, Missouri, USA.
• Jacob Riley was born in 1853 in Ohio, USA. He died on 01 Apr 1906 in Pike, Pike, Illinois, United States.
• Thomas Jefferson Riley was born in 1856 in Missouri, USA. He died before 1900 in Unknown.
• Armincy Riley was born in 1859 in Nebraska, USA. She died before 1900 in Unknown (according to Mary's 1900 census).
• John Oliver Riley was born on 12 Mar 1862 in Richardson County, Nebraska, USA. He died on 22 May 1943 in Crescent City, Del Norte, California, USA (Age: 81). He married Emma Sharkey on 11 Aug 1887 in Crawford, Lyons, Kansas. He married Mary Elizabeth Lively in 1911.

Source Data

In the 1850 census James (age 22) was in Jackson, Pickaway, Ohio, United States.^[1]

In the 1860 census James (age 32), Farmer, was in Salem, Richardson, Nebraska Territory.^[2]

Conflict

The information posted on the Find A Grave site, shows a document that looks to be the enlistment record for James Riley into the Civil War. According to the memorial, the brother of James, John R. enlisted on the same day.

The document show that James was born in Delaware County, New Jersey. However, on subsequent census records James says he was born in Pennsylvania. Delaware County, Pennsylvania is just 4 miles west of Philadelphia.

The family associated with John R. Riley at Familysearch on Feb 2017 was from Hunterdon County, New Jersey which curiously has a Delaware Township within it. Hunterdon County is 48 miles north east of Philadelphia, 53 miles from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Multiple Birth Dates. The date of 24 Nov 1829 is unsupported, the Find A Grave date has been used as the only sourced information. The death date as well is from Find A Grave, changed from 1865.

DNA Descendants

Other DNA Descendants are:

Cynthia Brown Ancestry

Cindy Townsend Ancestry

Sources

• Muster Roll

• Find A Grave: Memorial #133405190

1. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Jackson, Pickaway, Ohio; Roll: 720; Page: 123b; Line Number: 3
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #15998020 (accessed 25 January 2023)
   James Reily (22) in Jackson, Pickaway, Ohio, USA. Born in Pennsylvania.
2. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Salem, Richardson, Nebraska Territory; Roll: M653_665; Page: 483; Family History Library Film: 803665
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #44321239 (accessed 25 January 2023)
   James Riely (32), Farmer, in Salem, Richardson, Nebraska Territory. Born in Pennsylvania.