BARNY AND ELIZABETH (NATION) RILEY

           (for larger image-click on picture .  kk)   

Brothers Barny (b1825), John (1830), and James (b.1837) Riley were born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to Jonathan and Sarah Riley.  The Riley family lived in Newcomerstown, Salem Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, along with Jonathan’s father Barnabas and his family.  It is believed that the Riley ancestors originated from County Cavan Ireland and it is speculated the first ancestor, Maolmordha (Miles) O'Riley/Riley entered the United States as early as the mid 1600’s.  The descendants of Miles later made their way across Virginia, onto Mercer County, Kentucky, then up to Tuscarawas County, Ohio. 

Sometime during the later part of the 1840’s Barny and John removed from Ohio and traveled across Indiana and Illinois to Iowa, where they are found on the 1850 Federal Census living in Otter Creek, Linn County, Iowa.  Barny married Elizabeth Nation on February 15, 1849 in Linn County, Iowa.  Elizabeth Nation was the daughter of Joel and Mary Ann (Gritton) Nation.  Elizabeth was born in Illinois, however, the Nations and Grittons are known to originate from the Barren and Mercer County, Kentucky areas.

Barny and Elizabeth Riley farmed in the Otter Creek, Linn County, Iowa, area; and the following children were born: William (b.1852), John (1855), Allen (b.1857), Isaac (b.1859), Jefferson (b.1861), Ellen (b.1863), Oliver (b.1864), Mary Ann (b.1867), James (b.1871).

According to Iowa History accounts, Barny’s brother John Riley (1830) explored a while up and down the Mississipi River, then on March 23, 1853, he married Charity Hill in Macon County, Illinois.  The Hill family had lived previously in Salem Township, Tuscarawas County Ohio, and were found to be counted on early U. S. Federal Census along with the Barnabas and Jonathan Riley families.  John brought his bride, Charity, and her father Joseph Hill and family into Iowa where they settled in Tama County.  From the Illinois side, they crossed the frozen Mississippi River over to Iowa with their horses, wagons, and all their belongings making their way to Beaver Creek in Tama County, Iowa.  This location was in close proximity to where John’s brother Barny was located in Linn County with his wife and family.  They were forced to camp at the base of the creek until the water subsided and they could move to higher ground where the Hill ancestral farm is still located and continues to operate today, 150 years later.  This site is also where the Mooreville-Hill Cemetery was established with many Riley ancestors placed there, among the first being the younger brother James (b.1837) who died of typhoid fever at the age of 18 in 1855.

Then sometime during the mid 1870’s, Barny and Elizabeth and family decided to relocate to Linn County, Missouri.  Their 16-year-old son Isaac in October 5, 1975, and was buried at the Mooreville-Hill Cemetery.  Inscribed on Isaac Riley’s stone is that he was the son of B&E Riley.  Presumably Barny and family moved to Missouri after the death of their son in 1875. 

The family is found according to the U. S. Federal 1880 Census living on a farm in Jackson Township, Linn County, Missouri.  Shown on the census report were Barny(age56), Elizabeth(age46), Allen(age 23), Jefferson(18), Oliver(16), and Mary Ann(age13).

Sons William (b.1852) and John (b.1855) had left the household and were married by this time, living with their wives in Clay County, Missouri.  They are found on the U. S. Federal 1880 Census living in Clay County Missouri along with their families.  William (b.1852) was married to Phebe at the time and had a 4-year-old son, Barney. John (b.1855) was married to his first cousin Mary Ellen Riley (b.1857).  John and Mary Ellen were married in Linneus, Missouri on October 6, 1877.  John’s (B.1855) father Barny (b.1825) was a brother to John (b.1830) who was Mary Ellen’s father.  John took his betrothed Mary Ellen from where her family lived in Tama County, Iowa onto to Missouri where the Barny Riley family had located and they were married at Linneus.

Little is known about Barny and Elizabeth from the time they settled in Linn County, Missouri, until their death.  As noted there is a Mooreville-Hill Family Cemetery located on the Hill Century Farm in Tama County, Iowa, where some Riley ancestors are buried. It is possible they could have been brought back to Iowa for burial but no records exist to prove or disprove this possibility.  Therefore, it is believed that it is a probability that Barny and Elizabeth died and are buried in the Linn County, Missouri area.

Members of Barny and Elizabeth Riley’s family moved back and forth from Missouri to Iowa over the next century and have many descendants.

Submitted by Andrea Waage Rootham, 08/26/2006, e-mail jaroot10@juno.com.