McLEAN COUNTY HISTORY & GENEALOGY NEWS
By Euleen Rickard
Last week Smith house had several visitors, some from out-of-state. On Monday Ralph and Sue Riley of Medina, Ohio, Martin and Barbara Riley of Navarre, Florida and Austin Riley and Pat Schindler of Sacramento and on Tuesday Tim and Elizabeth Mitchell of Bethany, Oklahoma.
The Rileys were in Sacramento for the Riley family reunion that was held on Saturday, August 2 at the Lion’s Club building. Descendants of Austin Franklin and Mollie Octavia Troutman Riley have been assembling, off and on, since 1938. Mollie Octavia was a widow for almost twenty-five years and the gatherings began as celebrations of her birthdays and many were held at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Leslie and Una Riley on Highway 81 north of Sacramento. The newspaper account of her 76th birthday in 1938 listed fifty-one members attending with Ellis C. Riley and Taylor, Arvil, Fred and Chester Troutman entertaining with music in the afternoon.
Though gasoline was rationed, the reunions continued through the years of World War II and after the war in 1946 two World War I veterans, Lon Riley and Aileen Riley Minnich and three World War II veterans, A.J. Arnold, Raleigh Everly and Alvin Rickard attended. Actually, Aileen was a veteran of both wars. Aileen went to the Phillipines as an Army nurse in World War I.
At the end of the war she stayed in the Islands, married a well-to-do businessman and they were making their home there when the Japanese invaded the Islands. One account in an Owensboro paper stated, “The Japanese burned their home and Mrs. Minnich was taken prisoner. She was held three years in the Santo Tomas concentration camp.”
Austin Franklin and Mollie’s children were Lillie Riley Troutman, Clara Riley Rickard, Mahala (Haley) Arnold, Minnie Riley Rickard and William, Leslie and Lon Riley. The first reunion after Mollie’s death in 1952 was held in Legion Park in Owensboro. All of her children attended. The following year Mahala (Haley) died, then Lon in 1956, William in 1959, Leslie in 1961, Clara in 1967 and Lillie in 1968; only Minnie remained. She lived to be ninety-eight years old dying in 1986.
Cynthia, the wife of Lon lived until 1985. Cynthia and Minnie enjoyed many reunions hosted by Cynthia’s sons, Billy, Ralph, Martin, Coy, Austin and Joe Earl and their wives. Through the years interest in genealogy has grown and Riley and Troutman information has been exchanged. This year while visiting and eating the family watched pictures of former reunions and get-togethers, old school pictures and snapshots on a television screen. Riley and Troutman genealogy collected by Martin C. Riley has been copied for the museum.
Tim and Elizabeth Mitchell are relatives of Vice-President Helen Hill and her cousin Amon Beasley. Tim’s grandmother Hallie Ree Beasley was a sister of Amon’s father Gus Beasley and Helen’s mother Elton Beasley Hill. Hallie Ree Beasley married Ross Mitchell of Muhlenberg County and they moved to Oklahoma around 1920. Their son Forest Mitchell and grandson Tim were born and raised in Oklahoma.
In a letter to the Mitchells Helen told them of the museum. They wrote that they were interested in genealogy and although they did not know much about our organization in March they joined. Their interest grew and a visit to see relatives and the museum was included in their vacation plans. While here they went to the gravesites of the Beasleys at Station cemetery and met other relatives. Tim had written a book on the genealogy of the Beasleys and Mitchells and gave a copy to the museum.
Museum members are collecting items for a yard sale to be held on September 5, 2003. If you have things to contribute please call Helen Anderson, Mildred Iglehart or Euleen Rickard.