SILAS F. RILEY. Among the native sons of Hadley Township, Lapeer County, is the enterprising farmer and stock-raiser whose name we have just given. Mr. Riley was born in 1842, being the fourth in a family of six children, namely: Ashley, David, Harvey J., our subject, George W. and Mary L. The latter was called from earth at the age of eighteen; Ashley and David live in Hadley Township; George is a resident of Lapeer and Harvey lives in Columbiaville, this county.

Harvey and Clarinda (Fosdick) Riley were the parents of our subject, the father having been born in Genesee County, N. Y., July 31, 1811 and being one of five children, namely: Elijah, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; David, who resided at Pine Hill, N. Y.; Charles, who was an early settler in Wisconsin; Harvey, the father of our subject; Sophronia, who married David Riley and resides in New York. Harvey Riley came to Michigan in 1836, having been married in January of that year, and settled in the woods on section 15, of what is now Hadley Township, beginning at once to clear up and develop his farm. At the time of his death which took place, December 6, 1856, he owned a beautiful farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and was highly respected both as a man of business and as a Christian, being a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Silas F. Riley grew to mature years upon his father's farm, being educated in the common schools of the county and having the best advantages which could then be obtained in this part of the country. He received excellent and thorough drill although he was not able to attend school as much as was desirable, on account of the duties of the farm.

In 1874 on the 21st of October, Silas F. Riley was united in the bonds of marriage with Miss Elsa M., daughter of John and Jane (Giles) Wiltsiere of Dutchess County, N. Y. To this union have been granted four children: Charles S., Jennie M., Alletta and Lewis. Mr. Riley is an extensive dealer in live stock, as he buys, sells and ships a great many cattle, hogs and sheep each year. He owns a farm of three hundred acres in Hadley and some wild land in Huron. One important item in the family history is embodied in the war experience of the two brothers, Harvey and David, who enlisted in the army during the War of the Rebellion but whose term of service was cut short by the happy termination of the war.

Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the neat residence and rural surroundings on the farm of Mr. Riley.

[GLT, pp. 484-5]