The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-05-06
CAPT. JAMES RILEY.

TIC O0dtu VI VvttIdm tuo
British Consul at Mogradore, who ransom
ed Captain Riley snd bis crew from cap
itivity among the Arabs. He died at Ad
riauople, 10 August last, at an advanced
aee. In gratitude TO his benefactor, Cap
ltsin Riley subsequently, in laying of I
town in Van Vert county, Ohio, named j
Wiltshire, the same being now, we believe
the county seat Of said country.
| The announcement Of the death Of Will
shire. having reminded Us Of Riley, whom
it seems he out.lived, il strikes US that .
statement of the latter history Of Riley,
and the closing Of his very eccentric ane
eventful career will be Of interest 10 oul
readers. We copy the following para
graphs from Howe's Historical Collections
of Ohio:
"Capt. James Riley was the FIRST white
man who settled in Van Vert county; he
/ owed bis family into the forest, on the 8,
Mary's river in Jan. 1921, and began clear
ing up a farm and the erection Of mills
and named it Wiltshire, in honor Of his ben
efactor who redeemed him from African
slavery. His sufferings during his ship
wreck on the coast Of Africa, and subse
quent captivity among the Arabs, have
been detailed in volume by himself, with
which the public are already familiar. in
1923, he was elected ss single represen-
,ative TO the State Legislature from the ter.
ritory which now comprises the counties Of
Preble, Miami. Darke, Mercer, Allen, Van
Vert, Putnam, Paulding, Defiance, VIII.
liam., Henry, Wood and Lucas, thirteen
counties, which now, with largely in
creased ratio Of votes, send eight represen
t.tives and four senators. During that
session, which is justly pointed 10 as pre-
eminent in usefulness. TO that of any one
previous or subsequent, he bore consplcu
ous part, and asssted in maturing the four
great mea snres Of the session, VIZ: the aci
for improving the state bv navigab able Ca
nals; the revenue net, in which the first at,
tempt to establish an advalorem system Of
taxation. was made; the act providing q
sinking fund, and an act for the encourage
mel nt Of common schools; the last named.
and so much Of the first IS relates to the
Miami canal, were originated BY him, and
called his me ss0res.
"Captain Riiev lived at Wiltshire seven
wears, but his health and constitution had
been DESTROYED by his sntferings 10 Africa
md in the spring Of 1928, he was carried
to Fort Wayne for medical aid; after lineer-
ing on the verge Of death for several months
he was taken on bed 10 New York. and
1880, had 20 far recovered NJ TO resume his
natural life. In 1881, he made voyage
to Magadore, to visit bis benefactor, Mr..
Wiltshire, established trade there, and.
subsequently, made nine VOYAGES to that
country. during one OF which he sent his
vessel home in charge Of another, and trav-
eIed through Spain to Montpelier in France
for the benefit of surgical aid. The winter
Of lS39.4O he spent Al Mogadore and the
city Of Morocco, which latter town he visit
ed 10 company with Mr.. Wiltshire. and in
consequences Of this visit, the Emperor
granted him license To trade with pen
pie Of his sea-poris, during life, upon bighi,
favorable conditions. On the 10Th Of
March. 1910, he left New York 10 his brig.
The VIM Tell for St. Thomas, 10 the Wes,
Indies. died when three days out, and was
consigned TO the ocean. The vessel re-
turned to Mogadors for the cargo provided
nv him, and wns wrecked and lost while
At anchor ia the hsrbor; all on board, save
one perishing.- Western Recorder.
CHRlsrIANIrY.-Ig 60 back to the age Of
Jesus Christ, and nm Immediately struck
with the commencement and rapid pro-
gress Of the most remarkable revolution in
the annals of the world. Isee new relig
ion, Of character altogether Of its own
which bore no likeness ofany past or exist
ing faith, spreading 10 few years through
all civilized nations, and introducing new
era, new state Of society, change Of
the human mind, which has broadly distin-
guished all following ages. Here is a
plain fact, which the skep,ic will not deny,
however he may explain il. see this re-
leion issuing from an obscure, despised, hs-
ted people its founder had died on the cross,
"a mode Of punishment as disgraceful as the
pilory or eallows Of the present day. Its
teachers we're poor men. without rank, Of
ice. or education; taken from the fishing
O0dt anu OtUcJ uCCuputiouS WutHu uou uCsCi
furnished teachers to mankind. see
these men beginning their work on the
spot where thcir Masters blood had been
shed as Of a common maiefactor; and |
hear them summonng first his murderers.
and then all nations and all ranks, the sove.
reign on the throne, the priest in the
temple, the great and the learned. rs well
rs the poor and tine ignorant, to renounee
the faith and the worship which had been
nalIowed BY the vcneration Of all nges, and
to take the yoke Of their crucified Lord
see passion and prejudice, the sword OF
tho magistrate, the curse Of the priest, the
scorn Of the philosopher, and the fury Of
the popuace, joined TO crush this common
enemy and yet, wi,hou, human weapon,
and in opposition to all human power. ]
see the humblest Apostles Of Jesus win.
ming their way, overpowering prejudice,
breaking the ranks Of their opposers, chang
ing enemies into friends, breathing into
muti,udes . calm spirit Of marty rdom.
aud carrying TO tho bounds Of civilization.
and even into halEcivilized regions, re-
ligon which has contributed TO advance
society more than all other causes CON-
bined.-Dr. Channing.
c.lI - - -. i,