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James Martin Riley (ca 1903)
James Martin Riley and Ida Smith
Born: 17 April 1878 at Beaver, Beaver, Utah, USA
Parents: James Henry Riley and Sarah Ipson
Married: Ida Smith 3 June 1903 at Salt Lake City
Died: 4 July 1965 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah, USA
LIFE SKETCH OF JAMES MARTIN RILEY
from a sketch of Ida Smith Riley
James Martin Riley was the first of five children born to James Henry and Sarah Ipson Riley. All were born at Beaver, with the exception of the next brother, George, who was born just following the difficult Hole in the Rock expedition, in which the family had just taken part. Like in other accounts, as James was a toddler on this journey, keeping him away from dangers must have taxed his expectant mother's faith and patience. His father was one of the thirtee advance scouts who sought out a route from Cottonwood Canyon to the San Juan. James' first birthday took place in Bluff, which celebration was almost immediately followed by George's birth.
The Rileys did not remain in Bluff, but returned to Beaver before December of 1882 when little sisters, Jane (1882), Dorothy (1885) and Sarah (1887) were born. George died in 1883, and their father died in 1888, leaving Mother, Sarah, a widow with four children under 10. Sarah's sister, Mary Ipson Woolsey, died in 1889, and Sarah cared for her two surviving children. The two bereft parents married in 1892 giving James two immediate brothers, ages eleven and nine. Sarah and David M Woolsey then added six more to their combined family. David Woolsey (Wolsey in 1910 Census) was a sheepherder.
James and Ida Smith, also of Beaver, were married in the Salt Lake Temple 3 June 1903. Ida gave James much of the credit for a successful marriage. She said "it was necessary to give a lot and take a little" to be happy. They first lived in Newhouse, then when they had saved enough, they bought some pasture land in Beaver and moved into the old Riley home, in which they lived the rest of their lives. Both worked hard and were conservative in their habits.Besides being a farmer, Jim Riley was a builder. He helped haul the timbers and built many of the barns and sheds in the valley. He assisted in counting of remote sheep herds for tax assessment purposes. He also acted as an election judge and served jury duty.
Jim and Ida were married for 64 years and died within eight weeks of each other. Both are buried in Beaver Cemetery.
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
James Martin Riley (ca 1903)
James Martin Riley and Ida Smith