Millard Fillmore Riley (1850 - 1927)

Born Jan 1850 in Ripley, Jackson, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Isadora Helen (Staats) Riley — married 11 Aug 1878 in Jackson, West Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Jan 1927 at about age 77 in Hyattsville, Prince George's, Maryland, United States

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Biography

"Millard Filmore Riley, call "Fil" was a son of Robert Riley (b. 1812) and Elizabeth Cleek. He was born near Ripley, Jackson County, Virginia now West Virginia on Jan. 29, 1850. He died Jan. 22, 1927 in Hyattsville, Maryland where he was living at the time. For most of his life he was a farmer.

After retirement he first moved into the town of Ripley and later to Hyattsville, Maryland. He was a good mechanic and often did carpenter work. He was among those who built the Oak Hill Church and School. Dan D. Riley, his nephew, claims facetiously that he and his Uncle Fil built the church.

As a youth during the War Between the States, he joined and served in the Union Army. It appears his first enlistment was in the 141st West Virginia Militia in 1864. He was much too young to join the Army. His father went after him and re­ turned him to his home. In a few days he was off to another enlistment. This time his father let him stay. This enlist­ment was in Company "D" of the 7th West Virginia Calvary. On Aug. 16, 1867, he received a soldier's medal as a testimonial for this service in accordance with a joint resolution by the Legislature of West Virginia, adopted February first, 1866. He was a member of the Society of the Blue and Gray in Ripley. He was always eager to go to the encampments wherever they were. Each Memorial Day, we called it "Declaration Day," he always bought flags, Union and Confederate, and put them on the graves of the Blue and Gray.

On Aug. 11, 1878, he and Dora Helen Staats were married. She was born in Virginia on July 18, 1855 and died in Hyattsville, Maryland on Dec. 8, 1946 in her ninety-first year. She and her husband are both buried in Lorraine Cemetery, near Catonsville, Md. She grew up in the Parchment Community of Jackson County, West Virginia. Her mother died youngz and as a "teenager" she lived with her mother's sister "Lynnie" and brother-in-law Joel Sayre. Prior to her mother's death, Dora's father, Wilson Staats, spent time prospecting for gold in the west. Dora's youngest brother Warren Staats was reared from infancy and educated by "Lynnie" and Joel Sayre. According to Jackson County history the first circuit court for Jackson County, then defined by law as "The Circuit Superior Court of Lawand Chancery" was held on June ll, 1831 at the house of Joel Sayre. The Hon. Lewis Summers, Judge of the Nineteenth Circuit in the Tenth Judicial District of Vir­ginia presided. Business consisted of admitting two men to the practice of law, the appointment of a clerk and deputy clerk of the court and since there was no sheriff or crier, the court appointed a "Tip Staff and Crier" and then adjourned. The court again convened on Sept. 10, 1831 at Joel Sayre's house and the Governor of Virginia, who was present, appointed the first sheriff of Jackson County.

Filmore and Dora Staats Riley were the parents of four sons and four daughters."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Lanford, Mary Riley. Riley Family: Ancestors and Descendants of Robert R. Riley - 1812-1899, Jackson County, West Virginia. Published by the Author: 1979. College Park, Maryland: LDS Sacramento Branch, Genealogical Library.
   
   See Also: www.wvancestry.com Reference Materials - Ancestors and Descendants of Robert R. Riley 1812-1899 Jackson County West Virginia.pdf Accessed by L Ortt on 7 Feb 2022

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