Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1918 — AGED LADY PASSES AWAY [ARTICLE]

AGED LADY PASSES AWAY

luist Member of One of the Early Pioneer Families. Mrs. Alena Riley, perhaps the oHdest person in Jasper county, died at the home off her daughter, Mrs. Monroe Oarr, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, death being due to old age. Mis. Riley was born in Ireland in April, 1823, and was therefore nearly ninety-six years old at the time'of her death. When a young woman Mrs. Riley came to the United States and some years later with her husband located on a farm in Barkley township, where they lived for a number of years. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Riley had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Monroe Carr, in the west part of town. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Hyatt Of Muncie. The funeral was held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Augustine’s church and burial made in Mt. Calvary cemetery south of town. The death of Mrs. Riley removes the last member of five Irish families that came here in 1854, and stuck together. They first located in Vermont after reaching America, later locating at Bainbridge, Indiana, and from there came to Jasper county. The heads of the families were Edward Riley, Michael Shea, Miichael Brusnahan, John Ryan and Thomas and Patrick Murphy. When the first came here they worked at ditching the old Beaver lake in Newton' county for the second time —the first time it was ditched the work was done by Stephen Clifford, for whom Stephen Brusnahan of near Parr was named. They did the work for George W. Spitler and received, as near as The Democrat can learn, 50 per cent in land, 25 per cent in cash and 25 per cent in trade at the store. Edward Riley died in Barkley township at the age of fortyfive years, and his widow never remarried. The other families—or the older members, rather —have all long since passed to their reward.