George Washington Rilea,  father Thomas Rilea

History of Fulton County Illinois

In 1850 Fulton County, Illinois, Thomas E. is 18, with parents James and Catherine "Riley" - siblings Harry A. 24, Henry S. 16, George 14, Nancy 12, and Sarah E. 10.

In 1860 Chenoa, Illinois, Thomas, 28, is with brother Joshua D. 36 and Naomi 33 "Riley"

Thomas married Samantha Jewett July 19, 1863 in Logan County, Illinois

George cash-claimed a quarter in 26 and 27, 7N 48W in 1891.

Thomas proved up a quarter in 27, 7N 48W in 1890, and his heirs timber-claimed one next to it in 1895.

In 1880 CHENOA Illinois - like the Kirkpatrick next to him in Logan County - Thomas "Riley" is 46, a laborer, with wife Samantha 40, with George 15 and Clara 11.

Thomas died Nov 3, 1891 in Chicago, and was buried in Chenoa - occupation mason.

Samantha filed Nov 1891 for a widow's pension for Thomas' service in Company C, 39th Illinois - 1861-1863

Illinois Death records have Semantha Rilea dying in Chicago March 25, 1899, age 54.

In 1900 Multnomah County, Oregon, George W. born Jan 1865 in Illinois, is a life insurance agent.  Mary Dec 1870 Ohio, Clara July 1893, Thos E. May 1895 and Marsha Oct 1898. were all born in Illinois.

In 1910 George W. Rilea, 45, is in Curry County, Oregon, a postmaster.  He and Mary E. have Clara 16, Thomas E. 14, Martha E. 11, and Myrtle 6.

August 1914 "Mrs. Scanlon and Miss Martha Rilea were drowned in the Rogue River at Agness, about twenty-five miles above Gold Beach Sunday afternoon.  The ladies, with a number of others, were bathing in the rapids and were walking on the rocks in what was supposed to be a safe place when they slipped off into the water and were swept to death before assistance could reach them.....Miss Rilea was the daughter of Postmaster Rilea of Agness.....Both had lived in Agness for a number of years, and were well known."

Thomas E. Rilea died February 1959 in Portland, aged 63, "a trapper and prospector in Curry county in his boyhood days.  He was born in Chicago, and his parents settled at the Rogue River community of Agness after moving from Chicago.  He served on the staff of Gen John J. Pershing and was adjutant general of Oregon."

Wake Up Rilea Creek; A tributary of the Rogue River, this creek is located near Agness. There are at least two versions of how the creek came by this moniker. The first says it was named for early settler and miner Michael RILEY who was purportedly woken up at midnight by his partner with the words "Wake up Riley. We're rich". A second version claims that postmaster and schoolteacher George RILEA had the habit of staying up late listening to his radio and on the occasion that he slept in, had to be woken by customers knocking at his door.

Van Nuys California March 11, 1930

 "Shooting Rapids With An Automobile   The man in the circle is George W. Rilea, postmaster at Agness, Oregon. The Chevrolet car shown in the boat had to be transported in that manner to reach this Oregon town. The car was put on the boat and taken up the last-moving Rogue River to Agness. Below, Postmaster Rilea is shown looking under the hood of a motor car for the first time, Frank Lowery, "master mariner of the rushing Rogue," studying the riffle (above) to make sure the boat can make it through the rough water.

In 1940 Curry County George is retired, and Mary E. is proprietor of a grocery store.

  Thanks to Steven C. Earley

One tree said Mary Eve Minnick was born Dec 1, 1871 in Sandusky, Wyandot, Ohio and died Jan 2, 1953 in Clackamas County, Oregon.

In Riverview, Portland Oregon is a stone "Mary E. Rilea - 1871-1952 - Clara Rilea Allen -1893-1974

Also in Riverview is a stone "Major General Thomas E. Rilea  -1895-1959 and Helen Rilea Cover 1906-1996"