1. James Cooper RILEY [scrapbook] ¹ was born ^{2, 3} on 1 Jan 1826 in South Carolina. He died on 9 Apr 1882 in Ashley Co., Arkansas. He was buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Ashley Co., Arkansas.

    James Cooper Riley was born 1 Jan 1826 in South Carolina.  The ancestry of James is not well established, but he is believed to be the son of Joseph Riley, born about 1790 in South Carolina.  James is the second born of at least eight children who all made their way to Ashley Co. Arkansas. It is estimatd that the Riley family departed South Carolina sometime after 1838, and spent a few years in Mississippi prior to making their way to Ashley County in the late 1840s or early 1850.
     In 1850 James' occupation is listed as "Wagoner" from the census and he was residing in the household of Thomas and Elizabeth Denson and their children, along with several other boarders, in White Township, Ashley Co., Arkansas. Also in this household was Elizabeth Davis, who would become his wife on 1 Jan 1851 in Ashley Co., Arkansas.
    In Nov 1851 Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, John, followed by the birth of twin boys in 1853 (James and William), James would only live to be 9 months, and William also died early at age 16. James and Elizabeth would have a total of twelve children, with five dying before reaching the age of 20.
    In 1857 a land patent is recorded for 120 acres in the Bearhouse area (S27 W½SW T15S R6W and S28 NESE T15S R6W) which was followed by an 1859 patent for 40 acres (S27 NESW T15S R6W) and yet another in 1860 for 40 acres (SESW T15S R6W 27).  (A map showing this land is available in the multi-media version of this report).
    On 23 August 1862, James and Elizabeth joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church by "experience and baptism" [Mt. Olive records, p. 8].  The Mt. Olive church would become a focal point for the Riley's and their descendants.  Several events from James' life and that of his descendants may be found in the meeting minutes of the Mt. Olive church. In July 1867 James was elected as an alternate delegate to the church association [ibid, p. 21].  In June 1868 James was elected as a deacon with the ordination following in July 1868 [ibid, p. 23-24].  In August 1868 James was elected as a delegate to the church association [ibid, p. 24].  In March 1869 the church entrusted James with funds from the church, and in July 1869 he served on a committee to repair the church well [ibid, p. 25].  In September 1869 he was elected as an alternate delagate to the church association [ibid, p. 26].  He is shown as a member of the "Sabbath School" in April 1873 [ibid, p. 34a].  In June 1873 he served on the church committee to repair the well [ibid, p. 35].  The final entry from the Mt. Olive minutes which survive today records his responsibility for early work done in the church cemetery.  They met on 10 August 1874 to construct a 10-rail fence and gate around the cemetery [ibid, p. 36].
    From before 1860 to after 1880 the family resided in Bearhouse Township, Ashley Co., Arkansas. In 1860 the land was valued at $1120 and his personal property at $180.  In 1870 seven of their children were living with them and the land was valued at $1500 and personal property at $800.  James is listed as a "farmer" and his sons were working the farm.  In 1880 six of their children were living with them, with Mary being the oldest and George the youngest.  In addition, their granddaughter Anna E. Riley, and a paid laborer were in the household.
    James' youngest son, George, would be 9 years old when James died on 9 April 1882.  A total of four children under age 16 would be left to Elizabeth.
     According to a great-grandson's obituary (Floyd H. Riley), James Cooper Riley "helped lay out the town of Hamburg."

James married Elizabeth Ann DAVIS [scrapbook], daughter of Patrick H. DAVIS and Unknown UNKNOWN, on 1 Jan 1851 in Hamburg, Ashley Co., Arkansas. Elizabeth was born on 11 Nov 1833 in Mississippi. She died on 7 Mar 1910 in Berea, Ashley Co., Arkansas. She was buried on 8 Mar 1910 in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Ashley Co., Arkansas.

From the March 10, 1910, Ashley County Eagle:
"Mrs. Elizabeth Davis Riley, who was buried at Mount Olive Tuesday afternoon, was born in Tennessee on Nov. 11th, 1833, and was in her 77th year of age.  She had continous membership in Mt. Olive Baptist Church for fifty-one years.  She was a grandmother and great-grandmother of one hundred children, and was one of the most pious and consecrated mothers in Israel, who ever lived in Ashley County."

Note that the accompanying photograph is only tentatively identified as Elizabeth Ann Davis.  It was likely taken shortly before her death.  The original is thought to be in possession of Helen Wells as of 2006, with this copy provided electronically by Perry Snell, Jr.