OBIT: William M. [N.] RILEY, 1900, formerly of Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_______________________________________________ 

WILLIAM M. RILEY,

Father of Andrew J. Riley, esq., of this city, died at his home, 1700 
North Third street, Harrisburg, yesterday at 4 p.m., aged 82 years, 6 
months and 27 days.  Mr. Riley is survived by three children: A. J. 
Riley, of Altoona; James K. Riley, of St. Paul, Minn., and Harry M. 
Riley, of Harrisburg.  He also leaves behind him one sister, Mrs. Harry 
M. Riley, of Harrisburg.  He Riley [sic] had lived at Yellow Springs 
and Williamsburg, this county, for many years, and carried on the 
business of blacksmithing and wagonmaking at those places.  In 1871 he 
went to Harrisburg and accepted a position as foreman in the 
Pennsylvania canal company's shops.  He was a consistent 
Christian and closely followed the teachings of the Lutheran church.

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, January 10, 1900, page 8

WILLIAM N. RILEY.

  To the Harrisburg Telegraph of Tuesday evening, January 9, we are 
indebted for the following obituary notice of a gentleman who was well 
known to many residents of Blair county:
  "A long life that was lived aright ended at 4 o'clock this morning 
when Mr. William N. Riley, one of West Harrisburg's oldest and most 
respected citizens passed peacefully to his reward at his home, No. 
1700 North Third street.  His was a life of great usefulness and the 
community was the better for his more than a quarter of a century's 
residence therein.  Mr. Riley had been perceptibly failing since the 
death of his beloved wife, September, 1898, but was able to be about 
until about twelve days ago, when gastric catarrh placed him on his 
last bed of illness.  The end came before the dawn, but it found him 
conscious and ready to depart.
  "Mr. Riley was born in Pine Grove, Centre county, Pa., June 13, 1817, 
and subsequently removed to Huntingdon county, and from thence to 
Williamsburg, Blair county, where he was wedded to Miss Mary Kauffman, 
March 31, 1842.  A curious coincidence is the fact that both Mr. and 
Mrs. Riley were in their 83d year when they died.
  "July 1, 1864, Mr. Riley came to this city and for almost twenty-
eight years he was foreman of the Pennsylvania Canal company's shops.  
He established himself in the grocery business at No. 1702 North Third 
street, which business is now conducted by his son, Harry M. Riley.  
Mr. Riley was one of the oldest members of the Foster Street Lutheran 
church, now Messiah Lutheran church, and of him it can be truly said 
that he loved the sanctuary and none was more faithful in attendance 
upon its services.  He was a man of modest mien, of unswerving fidelity 
to any trust committed to his care, and strictly adhered to the 
teachings of the Golden Rule.  Mr. Riley was one of the best known and 
most popular residents of the upper section of the city, and many there 
are who will say, when they learn of his death, 'I have lost a friend.'
  "Three sons survive - Andrew J. Riley, esq., of Altoona; James K. 
Riley, of St. Paul, Minn., and Harry M. Riley, of this city.  One son, 
William Riley, died last spring in Roanoke, Va.  Mr. Riley is also 
survived by an aged sister, Mrs. Ellen M. Hewitt, of Williamsburg, Pa.  
Funeral services will be held at his late home Friday afternoon at 
2.30, to be conducted by Rev. Luther DeYoe.  Interment will be made in 
the East Harrisburg cemetery."

Morning Tribune, Wednesday, January 10, 1900