James W. Riley

James Wands Riley (1875 – July 23, 1954) was an American businessman and politician from New York.

Life[]

He was born in 1875,^[1] the son of Millard Fillmore Riley (1850–1927) and Martha Wayne (Wands) Riley (1849–1922).^[2] Millard Riley was born in Brooklyn, and later moved Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York.^[3] There he opened with his brother-in-law Charles R. Wands in 1882 a retail grocery, in 1887 a wholesale grocery, and later also a cold storage building. James Riley took over the management of the company after his father's death, and retired from business in 1948.

Riley was a member of the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Co.) in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938; and was Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs from 1937 to 1938.

He was a member of the New York State Senate (51st D.) from 1939 to 1942, sitting in the 162nd and 163rd New York State Legislatures. In August 1942, when running for re-nomination, he was defeated in the Republican primary election by George H. Pierce.^[4]

He died on July 23, 1954, in Olean General Hospital in Olean, New York;^[5] and was buried at the Mount View Cemetery there. He never married.

Sources[]

^ The transcription of the death certificate states "1876" as birth year, and "78 years, 1 month" as age at the time of death, which would place his birth in June 1876. However, the transcribed census data say in 1880 "age 5"; in 1892 "age 17"; and in 1900 "born Nov 1875". It is also doubtful where he was born: the father was born in Brooklyn, the mother in Albany. The 1880 census states they lived in Ceres, Allegheny County, New York, and they opened the first store in Olean only in 1882. It remains unclear where the couple lived at the time of the birth of James in 1875 or 1876.
^ Obituary for Martha Wayne Wands Riley" transcribed from the Olean Evening Times on January 14, 1922; at Ancestry.com
^ "Obituary of Millard Fillmore Riley, Sr." transcribed from the Olean Evening Times on January 17, 1927; at Ancestry.com
^ 427 Vote Cast Here in The Post, of Ellicottville, on August 12, 1942
^ JAMES W. RILEY OF COLD STORAGE FIRM DIES TODAY transcribed from the Olean Times Herald on July 23, 1954; Riley genealogy at Family Tree Maker

External links[]

James W. Riley at Find a Grave

New York State Assembly
Preceded by James W. Watson	New York State Assembly Cattaraugus County 1931–1938	Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by Leigh G. Kirkland	New York State Senate 51st District 1939–1942	Succeeded by George H. Pierce

[1] The transcription of the death certificate states "1876" as birth year, and "78 years, 1 month" as age at the time of death, which would place his birth in June 1876. However, the transcribed census data say in 1880 "age 5"; in 1892 "age 17"; and in 1900 "born Nov 1875". It is also doubtful where he was born: the father was born in Brooklyn, the mother in Albany. The 1880 census states they lived in Ceres, Allegheny County, New York, and they opened the first store in Olean only in 1882. It remains unclear where the couple lived at the time of the birth of James in 1875 or 1876.

[2] Obituary for Martha Wayne Wands Riley" transcribed from the Olean Evening Times on January 14, 1922; at Ancestry.com

[3] "Obituary of Millard Fillmore Riley, Sr." transcribed from the Olean Evening Times on January 17, 1927; at Ancestry.com

[4] 427 Vote Cast Here in The Post, of Ellicottville, on August 12, 1942

[5] JAMES W. RILEY OF COLD STORAGE FIRM DIES TODAY transcribed from the Olean Times Herald on July 23, 1954; Riley genealogy at Family Tree Maker

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