Person:Mark Riley (2)

_DCAUSE: General "breakdown" and enlarged prostate and cystitis

_PHOTO:

Mark M. Riley served in the Union Army, W. Va. Cavalry, Company B, 4th Regiment from June 1863-June 1864. (1890 Veteran's Schedule, Valley District)

Mark and Mary Riley were living in Lyon District in 1870 with 4 children. (US Census)

Mark apparently left Mary in 1879 and moved in with a friend, John Fortney. In the 1880 Census, he was living at the Fortney household.

In 1882, Mark filed divorce papers and stated that his reasons were the following: Mary treated him badly, quarrelling with him frequently. She struck him on two occasions, and was not "true" to him. He stated that the last child Mary delivered was not his, and that Mary had moved in with Laughlin Clark and "then was delivered of a male child." He also noted that Mary pretended that he was crazy, had him arrested, put in jail, and confined for 3 or 4 days until he was examined and "turned out." He says that he was always true to her and treated her well.

David D. Riley and John Fortney also gave testimony on Mark's behalf, stated his age as 37 years old, and that Mary Matilda Nichols "was an own cousin of mine." He stated that he was present at their marriage and that Mark treated her well. David says, "it is said that Laughlin Clark is the father of the child." He states that Mary came to David's home in July 1882, when his father was sick and stayed for several hours. He said that Mary tried to hide her condition, but "she was then half-gone in the family way."

John Fortney gave his age as 33 years and that he was well acquainted with the two parties in the suit. Mark had apparently moved in with John for two years. John's home was about 5 miles from Mark's house and an equal distance away from Laughlin Clark's house where Mary was currently residing. Laughlin Clark was noted to be a widower and had one child living with him. It was noted that his wife had been dead for about two years.

A summons was also listed in the divorce file requesting the following individuals appear on March 31, 1882: John Fortney, David Riley, Mariah Pyles, and Henry Miller, Sr. They all appeared before the Notary Public in Kingwood on the above date. (From research of Valerie (Riley) Woofter)

1. ↑ Death Records, Preston County, WV 1869-1920.