I am looking for my great-great grandparents. My GGgrandfather was Samuel Richard RILEY, born ca. 1861 in Alabama; place, exact date, and parents unknown. His wife was Mary Virginia FLOYD RILEY, born December 13, 1868, in LA; place and parents unknown. Samuel's birth information comes from the 1900 Upshur Co. census; the only one that I have found with him on it. Mary Virginia's information comes from the 1900 Upshur Co. census, and the 1920 Harris Co. census, and her death certificate. This family disappears between 1900 and 1920, although I am sure that they were in the East Texas area. Of their children, all but 4 disappeared also. I know nothing about their lives prior to the 1900 census, save for family legend. These family stories, told by my great-great uncle, Harold Riley, to an oral historian in the 1960s, state that his maternal grandfather, a "hard-headed Irishman", lost his lands in LA due to a feud over cattle, in which he killed several people. This is all I know about the FLOYDS. About the RILEYS, I know nothing. I do have a photograph of six men and five women, with a few children, dated May, 1861, that is supposed to be the RILEY family in AL. One of these men looks exactly like my father, but there are no names on the back of the photo, just the date. Here is what little concrete information that I have: Children of Samuel Richard Riley and Mary Virginia "Jennie" Floyd: 1. Miranda M. (son) Found only on 1900 Upshur census; no one in the family had ever heard of him, and had assumed that my great-grandfather, Carter Richard, was the eldest child. Presumed dead before 1910. Born 1889, TX 2. Carter Richard. Born January 4, 1891, Bowie Co. TX teamster, mule skinner, log truck driver. Eventually owned own logging operation in Tyler CO. Worked throughout E.TX area. Married Mattie Louise DeWitz, daughter of Robert DeWitz and Jennie West of Appleby, Nacogdoches County, TX, November 11, 1910. Had 10 children, all born in Nacogdoches Co (1st 3),Polk Co (middle 3), or Tyler Co. (last 4). Died December 23, 1940, in a logtruck accident on Hwy. 40, Colmesneil, Tyler County,TX. Buried Mt. Hope Cemetary, Chester, Tyler Co. TX. Wife Mattie died July 13, 1967, in Woodville, Tyler Co, TX, and is buried next to him. 3. Mamie. Nothing known. Found only in 1900 census. Family says that she and her sister, Clida, married in Nacogdoches in early 1900s, but died young. This has not been confirmed; Nacogdoches Co. will not let you search death records. Marriage records have not been found. 4. Clida. Nothing known. Found 1900 census. see above 5. Altha Jewell. Nothing known. Found 1900 census. Supposedly died in childbirth,Polk Co, but again, nothing is known. 6. Howard. Born January 29, 1903. Died November 14, 1912. Buried Cold Springs Cemetery, Garrison, Nacogdoches Co. TX. Died of pneumonia. Only record existing is death record. Tombstone says "Son of S.R. and M.V. Riley, with dates) 7. S.R. "Doc". Born ca. 1908 in Nacogdoches. Lived in Houston most of life. Found in 1920 census, Harris Co, living with his mother and brother, Harold, on Washington Avenue. Worked in textile mill with mom. Married, and had 1 child. Died in 1996, in Ozark, Dale Co, AL. Buried Liberty Hill Cemetary,Tyler, Smith Co, TX 8. Harold. Born ca. 1910 in Nacogdoches. Spent most of life in Houston. Found 1920 census with brother and mom. Married Roxie Phillips and had several children, including triplets and two sets of twins. The triplets weighed over 9 lbs each at birth. Married 2nd. Anna. Held patents for mechanical inventions. Died in late 1970s, Houston. 1900 Upshur census says that 3 children had been born to the Riley family that were no longer living. Mary Virginia "Jennie" Floyd RILEY is found in the 1920 Harris County census, living on Washington Avenue, with two children, S.R. and Harold, as well as a boarder, Will Marks. She worked in a textile mill. She is listed as a widow. Nothing is known about Samuel Richard Riley; he is not found after 1900, nor before. His death date, place, and place of burial are unknown. He was a "mean man" according to every story. Mary Virginia Riley died March 16, 1922, and was buried the next day in Washington Cemetery, Houston, Harris Co, TX. She died of pneumonia, complicated by influenza. She also had pellagra. I hope that someone will be able to help me find this family. Thanks for your help! Alanna Riley P.O. Box 6016 College Station, TX 77844 amr5465@tam2000.tamu.edu