BIOGRAPHY: Alvah Risley; Truxton, Cortland co., NY
surname: Risley, Webster, Brown, Muller

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Book of Biographies.
This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cortland
County, N.Y.
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y. 1898

     ALVAH RISLEY, deceased, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, was
a prosperous and energetic farmer of Truxton, and was a son of Reuben and
Sabra (Webster) Risley, and was born in Tolland County, Conn., October 28,
1800.

     Reuben Risley, the father of our subject, was born in 1769, and followed
the vocation of a farmer all his life. In 1801 he moved to the State of New
York, and was one of the oldest settlers in his section of the country. The
two hundred acres, which Mr. Risley purchased, were covered with a dense
forest; through his efforts the land was made to blossom and bringing forth
the fruits of civilization and prosperity. While history may bear the names of
the pioneers of Central New York down to posterity, the early struggles they
experienced with untamed nature, and its final subjugation through their
labors, and the results thereof, erect a lasting monument to their memories.
He was united in marriage to Sabra Webster, and they were the happy parents of
three children: Minerva; Ruth M.; and Alvah. Mr. Risley passed to the unknown
beyond in 1850.

     Alvah Risley was but one year old when he came to New York State with
his parents, and here he resided all his life on what is now called the old
homestead. He choose the occupation of a farmer, in which he was more than
ordinarily successful, owning at the time of his death several farms. He was
joined in wedlock, December 31, 1838, to Miss Dorinda Brown, daughter of
Seabury Brown of that section of Truxton. township that has since been
incorporated into Cuyler township. Two children blessed their happy home,
Alvah, deceased; and Mary, wife of Peter D. Muller.

     Politically, Alvah Risley was an old time Whig; upon the organization of
the Republican party, he joined the ranks of the Democrats, and remained with
that political organization until his death. He was very popular among his
fellow-men, who had great confidence in his executive ability. He was elected
justice of the peace for thirty years and served two years as supervisor. The
duties of every position to which he was chosen were faithfully and honestly
discharged. He passed from this life November 22, 1886, on the old homestead
in Truxton township. His death was mourned by a large circle of friends, and
he is still held in most affectionate memory. Mr. Risley was a keen, shrewd
and upright business loan, and succeeded in accumulating a fair fortune. He
was an honorable and highly respected citizen, a man of good judgment, and was
frequently consulted by his associates.