Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-07-12
JACOB RILEY Is DEAD.
A Well-kn0wn and Highly Re-
spected Citizen Gone.
sketch of An ii Onest and industrious
LIfe---Cause of Death Which De-
cured ut I2:i5 This Afternoon.

Jacob Riley is dead This news will
as;ound many and it will be sad an
nonncement to almost everybody in Rock
Island. for there are few who have not
known Honest Jake Riley. He breathed
his last AT his home l7l4 First avenue at
hfteen minutes before O'Clock this after
noon. Mr. Riley had been falling for
about year and for eight weeks had not
been away from his familiar First avenue
home, where he had lived so long. Sun
day last decided change for the worse
took place and since that time be had
been sinking rapidly. This morning
however, noted an apparent improve,
ment in his condition. He ap.
peared IN better spirits and even
stronger than for some time.
When the time came for the Chicago pa
pers he reached for them and his wife was
in the act of reading to him, when he
was seized with sudden convulsiye
movement and in a moment all was
over. DR.. Carter pronounces heart dis,
ease the immediate cause of death, though
it was complicated with other alice
tons.
jacob Riley was born in Lancashire.
England, March IS, 1920. He spent his
days IN his native town, and
there, December Il, 1913, married Ellen
Pikineton, who has been his faithful
since In 1S45 Mr.. and Mrs,
kIiey sailed for America. and after ar
FlVing IN this country, MIR Riley spent
several years in the eastern states.
being engaged in building and re,
pairing gas works \ large part
OF the time his business interests were
associated with Matthew Yates, tie firm
being engaged in Kentucky and OHIO,
5 nd their most important undertakings
being the construction of The Cleveland
gas works. Mr.. Yates son. Thomas, was
after his fathers death, adopted by Mr..
and Mrs. Riley and raised by them.
Mr. and Mrs. Riley came to Rock Isl
and IN 1865, Mr.. Riley having acccped
the SUPPLEMENTARY of the Rock Island
gas works. He remained in this business
for two and a half years. and it WIS
through his capable management
That the institution was put upon sound
and thriving basis. He was then en-
gagged for time in STEAM plumbing and
gas fitting. 1t WAS then that he buiIt
the weil-known building now occupied
by Davis & Co. and lust west of
MIR. RlIeys residence, which Was
built sfterward and which he had
occupied for twenty two wears
ihree Years after he sold out to Davis Il
20, and then he was engaged for II time
IN laying, or relaying rather, nearly all
The water pipes in the city He returned
to the uperinlendency of the gas works
Tor short period under Mr.. Ben Hsr-
pers proprietorship of the works. He
ifterward engaged in the marble and
granite business, disposing of his inter>
ests IN this industry to Mr.. r J. McGee
some three years ago, since which time
ne has lived 10 retirement from the active
'ares of business, and enjoying the com
forts of well spent ifc.
There were never any children in Mr..
and Mrs Rley's family, yet they were a
happy couple, happy in each others com.
pany Their mutual devotion and affec-
-l9n was noticeable characteristic of
their lives. Mr.. Rileys only sister died
IN May 10 last in England, passing away
suddenly, just as her brother has today.
That sister, too, was Mr.. Rileys only
relative besides his wife, and she is left
without living relative. yet in the midst
OF loving and sympathetic friends.
1t is unnecessary to speak at length of
the virtues and noble characteristics of
such man as Mir. Riley. He was honest
IN his every transaction and dealing
quiet IN his manners, with ever kind
word or pleasant smile for all he met.
In the portion of the city in which he
had lived so long his familiar face will be
greatly missed. He took great inter-
eat in all public works and enterprises
and lent his capital freely to everything
looking to the improvement and ad-
vancement of the city. He belonged to
Geo. Davenport Lodge. Sons of st
George, but to no other society organi
cation. He leaves comfortable estate
Mr. Riley was politically democrat
and served as a member of the common
council from 1870 20 1874,
The time of the funeral has not vet
been decided upOn