History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, MO
Cedar County Biography Section

     Riley Sherrill, a prominent and successful pioneer farmer
of Cedar County, Mo., residing near Stockton, Was born in 
Carroll County, Tenn., on the 5th of February, 1823, and is a 
son of Ambrose and Peggy (Hopkins) Sherrill, who were born in 
the "Old North State" in October, 1780, and 1789, and died in 
Cedar County, Mo., in September, 1844, and March 1845, 
respectively.  The father was a farmer throughout life, and 
when a young man moved to Wilson County, Tenn., afterward to 
Carroll County, and in 1841 took up his abode in Cedar County,
Mo., where he spent the rest of his days.  His father, Jacob 
Sherrill, was of English birth, a native of North Carolina, 
and at an early day removed to Wilson County, Tenn., where he 
died.  James Hopkins, the maternal grandfather, was of 
Scotch-Irish descent, and one of the first settlers of Polk 
County, Mo.  He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, 
and was quite wealthy, owning at one time a large number of 
negroes.  He died at an advanced age.  Riley Sherrill was the 
seventh of twelve children, three of whom are living at the 
present time, and made his home with his parents on the farm 
until their respective deaths.  On the 12th of June, 1845, his
marriage with Miss Susan Davidson was consummated.  She was 
born in Wilson County, Tenn., and she and Mr. Sherrill became 
the parents of the following family: Ephraim, who died in 1870,
at the age of twenty-four years, leaving, besides his wife, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Willett, two children, Riley 
and Thomas; James, who died in 1848, at the age of six months;
William B., who was born in 1852, and married Miss Ida Love, 
by whom he has one child, Jennie; and Tennessee, who was born 
in 1857, and is the wife of John Henderson, by whom she has 
three children, Virgil, Edward and Helena.  In 1841 Riley 
Sherrill left his native county and State, and came to Cedar 
County, Mo., and lived with his parents until 1849, when he 
moved to Stockton, and engaged in the grocery business.  In 
1857 he and John E. Hartley became partners in a general 
merchandise establishment, the firm being Sherrill, Hartley & 
Co., for two years.  During the war Mr. Sherrill merely looked
after his money matters, and after the war began speculating 
in lands, stocks and paper, and met with flattering success.  
In 1871 he moved to the farm where he now resides, and the 
following year located in Fort Scott, Kan., where he resided 
two years, then returned to his farm, where he has since made 
his home.  He commenced life for himself a poor man, but by 
good management he has added to his income, year after year, 
until he is now one of the wealthiest men of Cedar County, 
and owned land to nearly the amount of 1,500 acres.  
At present he owns 480 acres, which is well improved with 
fine buildings.  He is a Republican in politics, but is very 
conservative.  He does not belong to any church, and is an 
agnostic in belief.  

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties,
Missouri, published by Goodspeed, 1889--Pages 773, 774
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