Obituary of Riley Keller - Cumberland County, Illinois Taken from the CUMBERLAND DEMOCRAT - July 30,1885 - Toledo, Illinois (pg.1) An Old Pioneer Crosses the River Uncle Riley Keller, who is well and favorable known to almost everybody in the county, died at his residence about seven miles west of Toledo, on Saturday last. He had been in poor health for a number of weeks past, and on the above date did not seem to be any worse than usual. He was sitting in a chair, when all at once he arose, walked to a bed, layed down and breathed his last in a few moments. His passage to the great beyond was unattended with any pain. The spring which gave life and animation to the machinery of the body for so many years had run down, and the spirt had departed from its house of clay. Uncle Riley, as he was familiarly called, was born in North Carolina, Dec.19, 1811. Like Douglas, when a mere boy he became enamored with the western fever, left home, kindred and native hills to encounter the trails and tribulations of the then haunts of Indians and lairs of wild beasts. Staying in Indiana until the Black Hawk war broke out, in 1832, he enlisted in that campaign as a "ranger" and served to the end. Always fond of his gun and adventure, Uncle Riley did valiant service to his country, and made many hair-breadth escapes. If we are not mistaken there is but one of the Black Hawk war veterans left in the county to recount the adventures of that trying time to the early settlers, and that is Uncle Jimmy Ewing, a resident of Neoga township. Green Smith and Dan Nedham, and now Uncle Riley, have paid the debt that all must sooner or later pay. With a land warrant in his pocket Uncle Riley came to this county in the fall 1851. With a gun on his shoulder and a face covered with a smile he approached Uncle John Prather's log cabin, that was just recieving the finishing touches in the way of a "chinkin" door, was Uncle Riley's first introduction to those who afterwards became his neighbors and who in all the succeding years knew him only to respect him. The funeral services on last Sunday was largely attended and was conducted by Rev. Isaac Hayes, Baptist minister, who delivered a remarkable touching and eloquent funeral discourse. The funeral cortege, numbering some sixty wagons and buggies, almost reached from the family residence to the Drummond cemetery, where the remains were deposited in their last resting place, to await the summons of Him who doeth all things well. The family of the deceased have the sympathy of a large circle of friends. Recieved information from: Illinois State Historical Library OLD STATE CAPITOL Springfield, Illinois 62701 Wednesday, 15 October, 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Kate Keller Bourland