Thomas Jefferson Riley
b. 26 February 1842, Mauckport, Harrison County, Indiana, to Henry S. and Mary “Polly” (Pennell) Riley
d. 28 January 1918, Meade County, Kentucky

m. 27 January 1875, Meade County, Kentucky
Harriet A. Finch
b. 25 June 1841, Meade County, Kentucky, to John and Frances (Froman) Finch
d. 12 April 1920, Meade County, Kentucky

Children with Harriet A. Finch:

• Angeline “Annie” (1875-1909) married Clarence Eugene Frans
• Martha “Mattie” Amelia (1877-1967) married James L. Frans
• Siretta “Rettie” Glenn (1878-1968) married George Washington Singleton
• Mary Elizabeth (1881-1978) married Richard Lavielle Edmonds
• Edward (1887-aft. 1900)

Thomas’ family lived in Mauckport, Harrison County, Indiana, from about 1832 until about 1844, when they moved across the Ohio River to Meade County, Kentucky. The Riley farm was adjacent to the Finch farm, so Thomas and Harriet probably knew each other in childhood. Their marriage was the only one for each of them and both were in their thirties at the time of their marriage.

Thomas was a farmer. On 24 July 1863, he enlisted in Tennessee as a Private in Company E, 12th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, CSA, and served until his unit surrendered in Louisville, Kentucky, on 16 May 1865. During the Civil War, Thomas was captured near Paris, Tennessee, and later returned to service after a prisoner exchange. He received a pension for his military service in the CSA. After his death, his widow Harriet Finch Riley received a widow’s pension until her own death two years later. His service t the Confederacy was recently accepted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It is noted that Thomas was not a slaveholder.

Submitted by:
Mary D. Kraeszig
Zionsville IN
E-mail: kittydoc@indy.rr.com