WI BIO - Dane Co - RILEY, Edward Farrell
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 207-208

Edward Farrell RILEY, a well-known and popular citizen of Madison, Dane 
County, Wisconsin, was born at Livonia, Livingston County, New York, 03 
October 1847. His father, Rev. B. G. RILEY (Presbyterian), was born in 
Otsego County, New York, in 1810, and graduated at Williams College in 1834, 
and at Union Theological Seminary in 1837. He [B. G. RILEY] married Anna 
FARRELL, born in Detroit [Wayne County], Michigan, and they had five 
children: Laura E., Mary F., Ellen G., Edward F. [the subject of this 
sketch], and Charles P. In 1857 the parents [B. G. and Anna (FARRELL) RILEY] 
removed to Wisconsin, then on the frontier of civilization, and settled in 
Lodi, Columbia County.

Edward Farrell RILEY passed his boyhood until the age of sixteen in Lodi, at 
which age he enlisted in Company C, 42nd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry (Captain George M. HUMPHREY, Colonel Ezra T. SPRAGUE), being a 
Corporal in that company. He served until the close of the war and was 
mustered out in the spring of 1865, at the age of about seventeen and a half 
years. He returned to Lodi, pursuing his studies in the academy there for 
some time, after which he entered a store in the village as clerk. On 01 
March 1869 he removed to Sun Prairie, Dane County [WI], where he acted as 
clerk and bookkeeper for Henry GILMAN and Dexter CURTIS.

Mr. [Edward Farrell] RILEY was married at Sun Prairie [Dane County, WI] on 29 
April 1873 to Miss Eliza C. LaBORE, born at Sun Prairie on 04 July 1850. 
Three sons have been born to them, namely: George C., Charles G., and Frank 
M.

In 1874 Mr. [Edward Farrell] RILEY removed to Madison [Dane County], 
Wisconsin, at which place he has resided since, being engaged in the 
mercantile business, for some years associated with E. F. Riley & Company 
(with L. P. HINDES), and Riley & Bowen (with W. H. BOWEN), and for some time 
proprietor of the Hickory Hill dairy farm. In 1881 Mr. RILEY entered the 
employ of Mr. Wayne RAMSAY, cashier First National Bank, as secretary in his 
private business and in the care of the estate of Dr. J. B. BOWEN, deceased, 
and in looking after lands in which Mr. RAMSAY had interests. Mr. RILEY 
remained in the employ of these land associations until 01 January 1888, at 
which time he was elected secretary of the Board of Regents of the University 
of Wisconsin, which position he still holds, 01 January 1893. Mr. RILEY 
joined the Masonic fraternity soon after his majority and united with the 
First Presbyterian Church of Madison, upon profession of faith, 03 May 1875.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly