Riley, Peter Matson

Passed: 1927-01-24

Age: 73

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice: 1927-01-24

Obituary Date:

Information: BODY OF P.M. RILEY ARRIVED HERE LAST SATURDAY EVENING-FUNERAL HELD SUNDAY, CONDUCTED BY REV. GARRETT-INTERMENT IN RILEY CEMETERY, NEAR OAK HILL.-  The remains of former Justice of the Peace P. M. Riley arrived on the late train last Saturday from Russel, Ky., where he died the Monday previous.  It was accompanied by members of the family and friends who had joined the funeral party on its way here.  On account of the abandoned train service on the Ohio River division of the Baltimore & Ohio, due to high water, the funeral party found it impossible to reach here sooner.      Mr. Riley had been a sufferer from rheumatism for nearly two years and last fall they closed their Ripley home and went to Kentucky to spend the winter with a daughter there, hoping that the change in climate would prove beneficial to him.  For the past few weeks his condition had gradually become worse, and several days before his death the family and friends had abandoned all hope of his recovery.      For a quarter of a century, Mr. Riley served the people of Ripley district as justice of the peace and held the distinction of having served in that office longer than any other West Virginian of his generation.  His decisions were always sound and attorneys and litigants at the bar of his court always respected him both for his sound judgement and his desire to render fair decisions.      Peter Matson Riley was a son of Robert R. and Elizabeth Riley and was born at Ripley, June 16, 1863, and at the time of his death on January 24, 1927, was 73 years, 7 months and 8 days of age.  He was united in marriage to Miss Laura Frances Hughes on May 25, 1884, and to this union the following children were born:  James H., Daniel D., Roy J., Mrs. George W. Jenkins and Mrs. Ira Halstead.  All the children, together with the widow, survive.  He is also survived by two brothers, W. W. Riley of Pt. Pleasant and R. R. Riley of Ripley, and also one sister, Mrs. J. W. McCoy of Mason county.  He was a resident of Ripley all his life.      The funeral services were held at the Methodist church Sunday morning at 10:30, conducted by Rev. Harry Garrett of Cottageville.  Rev. Garrett used as his text for the funeral oration the eleventh verse of the thirteenth chapter of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which was ""Finally, brethren, farewell.""  The remains were taken to the Riley cemetery near Oak Hil for interment.  Those from a distance here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Dan D. Riley of Holden, R. J. Riley of Farmington, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Halstead of Russel, Ky., Mr. and Mrs. George W. Jenkins of Charleston and W. W. Riley of Point Pleasant.