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Chase County Sketches
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Riley, John Newton John Newton Riley was born January 1, 1862 in Nashport, Muskingum County, Ohio.
John was one of five known children born to John and Christy McDonald Riley. The other four children were J.M., W.F., Samuel and Sarah Riley Snyder. Little is known of John's childhood. He immigrated to Kansas with other members of his family. The father, John, died September 28, 1910 in Topeka, Kansas.
Our subject John Newton Riley married Sarah Ella Tomson in Dover, Kansas on November 18, 1885.
Sarah Ellen Tomson's father Thomas Kyle Tomson was born September 25, 1826 in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. He was the son of Cornelius and Anna Kyle Tomson. As a newly married couple Thomas and Elizabeth immigrated to Kansas in a covered wagon. They settled in the Dover area. Here in Dover the Tomsons raised their five children: Anna Belle who was an invalid; Sarah Ella born July 9, 1863; John R. born October 3, 1867; James Gillis born February 3, 1875; and Frank D. All but James were born near Dover. James was born in Maple Hill.
Thomas and his sons had much to do with the improvement of livestock in Kansas. They were one of the first Shorthorn breeders in the state. Elizabeth Davis Tomson died in 1878 and Thomas Kyle married a third time, to Mrs. Marion McArthur Miller. Marion bore him one son, Joseph M., before her death in 1899. Thomas Kyle died on November 2, 1910 in Dover, Shawnee County, Kansas.
John Newton and Sarah Ella Tomson Riley began their married life in Dover where their first two children were born, Fred Tomson Riley, May 5, 1889 and Anna Belle, December 3, 1891. The Rileys then immigrated to California for a short time returning to settle in Chase County in 1901. Their third and last child, William Clarence Riley, was born April 30, 1901.
In 1908 the Rileys built a new home. This home was designed by Anna Belle and constructed of limestone taken from the hill behind the house with only the stone for the corners and windows being purchased from an outside quarry. The basic design consisted of a two story square structure. Well into construction it was discovered that the stairway had been omitted from the original design. Improvisations were made and a stairway was situated in the middle of the house.
John Newton and Sarah Ellen Tomson Riley spent the remainder of their lives in the Cottonwood-Chase County area. John died April 24, 1935 and was buried in Prairie Grove Cemetery. Sarah died October 24, 1944 and was buried beside her husband in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Cottonwood Falls.
John and Sarah Riley's first son, Fred Riley, married Alvina Walle May 2, 1910. They were the parents of two daughters, Florence and Dorothy. Fred died September, 1913 of an accidental gunshot wound. Anna Belle married Sidney June Cahoone on June 11, 1919. Their history appears elsewhere in the sketches. Their third, William Clarence Riley, died in 1933 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
Please submit your historical sketches.
| Chase County Host Lorna Marvin | 
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Last updated 11/10/2003
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