Riley Canaday (1819 - 1869)

Born 23 May 1819 in Wayne, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Lewis) Canaday — married 11 Dec 1839 in Vermilion, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Jul 1869 at age 50 in Weeping Water, Cass, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

Riley was born on 23 May 1819 in Wayne County, Indiana. He was the youngest son of John Canaday and his wife, Julatha (Cox).

Riley came west with his parents to Vermilion County, Illinois, in 1828.

Riley first married Martha Lewis, the daughter of William and Anna Lewis. They had three sons, with the younger two surviving to adulthood. Sadly, Martha died in 1846, when her little boys were only 3 and less than a year old.

Following Martha's death, Riley married Margaret Ann Woodward, the daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Shelley) Woodward, on 9 Sept 1847. Margaret was born 28 Oct 1824 in Indiana. She had 14 brothers and sisters. Samuel and Abigail were Quakers, with 1825 records showing the transfer of Samuel's membership to the White Lick Monthly Meeting in Morgan County, Indiana.

Riley and Margaret had 10 children, but sadly only 5 of them survived to adulthood.

In early 1857, Riley and Margaret moved the family to Nebraska Territory where Riley filed a preemption on land near Nebraska City. Their efforts to farm there were plagued by grasshoppers and drought, and sadly brought to an end by foreclosure. The family later homesteaded in Cass County. Riley died before the requirement for the land could be fulfilled, but Margaret was allowed to continue, and was one of the first women to be granted land. She remained on the land for nearly 30 years until her death.

Riley died on 24 Jul 1869 at Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/36189212/riley-canaday : accessed 12 July 2021), memorial page for Riley Canaday (23 May 1819–24 Jul 1869), Find a Grave Memorial ID 36189212, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by Smilydino (contributor 47098476) .
• History of Cass County Nebraska 1st Edition by Plattsmouth Journal ISBN-13: 978-0881071375 ISBN-10: 0881071374