Martha (Powell) Riley (abt. 1809 - bef. 1909)

Born about 1809 in Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Ningon Riley — married about 1825 in Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 1909 before about age 100 in Van Buren, Arkansas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Beckie Riley [send private message]

Biography

Research notes

Martha E Cariker vs Cherokee Nation, File # 4379, Oklahoma Historical Library, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Steven F Cowen states that he knows Martha Cariker to be of Cherokee blood and that she has course black hair, black eyes and of dark complexion and was always called Indian by all who knew her in the county where we lived. He knows her to be closely related to the Choat Family who was Indians by blood of Cherokee Indian or Tribe of Indians having known them in Tennessee, Wayne Co and that Betsy Choat is her Great Grandmother the same Betsy Choat who is an - - - at Talequat, I.T.

Katy Chambers states that she is well acquainted with the applicant, Martha E Cariker and that she is a Cherokee Indian by blood and that she is the great grandaughter of Betsy Powell (nee Choat) she further states that Martha is the daughter of Nancy Stobaugh (nee Riley) and Nancy Stogaugh is the daughter of Patsy Riley (nee Powell) and that Patsy Riley is the Daughter of Betsy Powell (nee Choat) whose name appears on the old Cherokee roll of citizenship as Betsy Choat. She afterwards married a man by the name of Louis Powell.

William H Norman states that he first became aquainted with Martha Cariker's grandparents from the year of 1870 until their death, which occurred several years later. Martha is the decendant of Betsy Choat by blood who was a Cherokee woman by blood, was recognized by all the neighbors that she was Chrokee by bloot. It was very common talk among old neighbors in the year 1870 and since that time that the Choats, Powells and Couch families were of Cherokee Indian by blood. Than her complexion features indicate that she has Indian blood in her veins being so well acquainted with the Indian family their instincts and Nation coupled with their biography as hand down by tradition of the older inhabitants and their neighbors indicate that they are beyond doubt Cherokee Indians by blood.

Ward Willis states that he is well acquainted with the Choat family having first got acquainted with the Choats in 1862 or 1863 and know them to be Cherokee Indians by blood. He futher states that he knows Martha to be closely related to Betsy or Betty Choat, she has jet black hair and eyes and dark skin. She is looked upon by the community in which she lives as Indian

Sources

• BIRTH: 1850 Federal Census, Van Buren County, Arkansas
• RESIDENCE: 1860 Federal Census, Van Buren County, Arkansas
• RESIDENCE: 1870 Federal Census, Van Buren County, Arkansas
• MARRIAGE: Journal of William Wommack Riley, found at Family History Library, Salt Lake, Utah; based on Census records and birth dates of children

• DEATH
• BURIAL: Place: Riley Family Cemetery, Scotland, Van Buren County, Arkansas, USA
• Source: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=120496301