It’s 1916. Let’s check in on each of the Riley children. Then we’ll see what Will and Josie are up to.
Irene got married
Irene Marie Riley married Thomas Aloysius Hurley October 19, 1916 at Sacred Heart Church in Sedalia, Rev. Benjamin Alt presiding. Irene was age 24.
Tom Hurley was part of an old-time Sedalia family. His parents Edward and Catherine Hayes Hurley had come to Sedalia in 1872. Edward Hurley was a contractor and brick layer, and built many of the notable buildings in Sedalia, like the Cassidy building, Lamy Manufacturing, Lemp Warehouse and Ice House, Sedalia Library, and the Hurley block. In 1913 Tom Hurley became president of the Queen City Electric Company.
Joe got married
Joseph Aloysius Riley married Emeline B. Staats on August 2, 1917 at Sacred Heart Church, Rev. S.J. Neiberg presiding. Joe was age 22.
Emeline was the daughter of Dr. Ethan and Effie Bell Staats. They had come to Pettis County in 1895 from Illinois and then St. Louis.
The U.S. Congress authorized a military draft in 1917. Each male between the ages of 18 and 25 had to register by June 1917. Joe registered at Sedalia on June 5, 1917. His draft number wasn’t called, so he didn’t serve in World War I.
His registration shows that he was working as a clerk at E.G. Cassidy Mercantile Co, the family business. He was described as medium height and build, with gray eyes and light brown hair.
William started a new job
William Jr. had just graduated from business college and started a new job. William was age 18.
Like Joe, William was required to register for the draft, which he did on September 12, 1918. The war would end two months later, so William was never called to duty.
John
John Pensa Riley was too young to be called to military duty. In 1916, he was age 15.
But a few years later on December 15, 1920, John enlisted in the Missouri National Guard for a term of three years.
Mary Agnes was in Sacred Heart school
Mary Agnes attended Sacred Heart School. Sacred Heart School had curriculum for 1st through 8th grade. In 1916 Mary Agnes was in the 5th or 6th grade.
Catherine was in high school
For high school, the Riley children attended Sedalia High School. Built in 1895, Sedalia High School served until 1925 when it was replaced by Smith-Cotton High School.
Catherine Rose Riley began 9th grade as a Freshman at Sedalia High School in 1915. She attended four years, until 1918.
Catherine Rose Riley graduated from Sedalia High School in 1918.
Sources
- Marriage license – Irene Riley and Tom Hurley – ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1171/images/vrmmo1833_c9630-0031?pId=506842589
- Marriage license – Joe Riley and Emeline Staats – ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1171/images/vrmmo1833_c9630-0124?pId=6842962
- Military registration – Joe Riley – ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005151893_00571?pId=30791000
- Military registration – William Riley – ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005151893_00576?pId=30791005
- Military enlistment – John Riley – ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62169/images/FS_101716723_02272?pId=297495
- News articles – various dates attributed where shown – The Sedalia Democrat – newspapers.com and Teply Family Documents
- Image – Postcard of Sedalia High School – Show Me The History – Johnson County and West Central Missouri – https://1973whsreunion.blogspot.com/2014/04/sedalia-missouri-history-photos-pettis.html
- Photos – Catherine Riley, Mary Agnes Riley, Sedalia High School, etc. – Teply Family Documents
- Image – Catherine Riley SHS Diploma – Teply Family Documents
- Photos – Sacred Heart School – Our History – https://www.gogremlins.com/our-story/
- Music – Oh! By Jingo! – All-Star Trio – Free Music Archive – https://freemusicarchive.org/music/All-Star_Trio/Antique_Phonograph_Music_Program_01192016/Oh_By_Jingo_All_Star_Trio
Family Nibbles 