Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN RILEY
On the old Riley homestead, on the
American river, John Riley, son of Patrick Riley, was born May 30, 1855.
His father crossed the plains in 1849 and arrived at the San Joaquin grant in
the spring of 1850. He engaged in farming and followed that
occupation and teaming until his retirement from active life in 1870. He
died in 1879. His teaming business took him to Forest Hill, Jackson and
Placerville, the last-named locality then being known as Hangtown.
Indians were at times somewhat troublesome in those days, but Patrick Riley had
an Indian friend, Patricia, who, unknown to him, followed him to and fro as he
made trips through the country, sometimes hunting near him in order to protect
him if he should fall into danger. Mary Burke, who married Patrick Riley
and became the mother of John Riley, came to California with her two brothers,
Patrick and Thomas Burke, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on a mule. In
the early days of Sacramento she worked as a servant for Dr. Ball several
years, receiving a wage of $100 a month. She bore her husband five
children, three of whom are living. In the prosecution of his farming
operations the father usually employed about a dozen Indians and during harvest
about fifty. He never had any trouble with them, but some of his
neighbors had fights with some of them, and on one occasion, when defeated red
men were crossing the river in retreat, several were killed.
At the early age of thirteen years, in
1868, John Riley took up the battle of life for himself. In various
capacities he was associated with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for a
time, and later was a conductor on the Market and Valencia street
horse car line for two years. Then for two years he was in the employ of
H. S. Kirk, druggist, after which, in 1881, he purchased the grocery of Jacob
Wagner at Tenth and E streets, and in November, 1910, he moved to Nos. 421-423
Tenth street, into a building which he still
owns.
Kate Webster, Mr. Riley's first wife, bore
him three children, John Francis, Herbert J. and Hazel, and she died in
1897. In 1899 Mr. Riley married Mamie McBride,
and they have children named Alethea and
Beatrice. The family are members of the
congregation of the Cathedral. Mr. Riley, whose father immigrated to
America from Ireland, has demonstrated the success of men of Irish blood in the
handling of American affairs.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 718-721. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.