laura anne young riley
1870-1960
Life Story
A Century of Resilience
The life of Laura Ann Young Riley serves as a remarkable map of the African American experience, spanning from the immediate aftermath of the Civil War to the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement. Born just five years after emancipation, Laura’s ninety-year journey carried her from the red clay of Mississippi to the industrial landscape of post-war Ohio. Her life reflects endurance, adaptability, and the quiet strength of a woman who sustained generations.
Early Life and Roots in Mississippi
Laura Ann Young was born on January 13, 1870, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Alfred and Rebecca Young. In the 1870 Census, she appears as a four-month-old infant in her parents’ household, both of whom were Alabama-born, part of the early generation building new lives after slavery.
Growing up during Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow, Laura’s life was shaped by both hardship and determination. Notably, census records consistently indicate that she could read and write, a significant achievement for a Black woman born in the immediate post-emancipation era. This literacy suggests a family commitment to education despite systemic barriers.
Marriage and Motherhood
Around 1898, Laura married John Riley, forming a large and dynamic household. By 1910, the family had relocated to Scott County, Mississippi, where Laura managed a home of eleven individuals, including her children and extended family members.
Her children, who would later disperse across the United States during the Great Migration, included:
Sons:
- Edward Samples
- Dewey Riley
- Elijah Riley
- Booker T. Riley
- Peter Riley
Daughters:
- Lena
- Geneva
- Bertha Dixon
- Laura Clanton
- Johnnie Bernice Derricks
- Carrie Riley
- Ernestine King
Throughout the early twentieth century, Laura remained the center of the household. While her husband worked the land, she maintained the home and raised a generation that would seek opportunity beyond Mississippi.
The Matriarch in Transition
By 1940, Laura had been widowed. At age seventy, she was living in the household of her daughter Johnnie Bernice Derricks and son-in-law Bob Derricks along Highway 80 in Scott County.
Even in later life, Laura continued to work. Census records list her as an “unpaid family worker,” contributing labor throughout the year—evidence of her lifelong commitment to family survival and stability.
In 1954, at approximately 84 years old, Laura made a profound transition. Leaving Mississippi after more than eight decades, she joined the Great Migration northward, relocating to Lima, Ohio, to live with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Ernestine King, at 1410 S. Union Street.
Final Years and Legacy
Laura spent her final years in Lima surrounded by the family she had nurtured across generations. Her obituary reflects the breadth of her legacy, noting a large and extended family network that included children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
On March 12, 1960, Laura Ann Riley passed away at St. Rita’s Hospital in Lima, Ohio, at the age of ninety. She had been a patient there for only one day.
Her obituary records that she was survived by:
- Daughters: Ernestine King (Lima, OH), Bertha Dixon (Milwaukee, WI), Laura Clanton (Kansas City, KS), Johnnie Bernice Derricks (Forest, MS), Carrie Riley (Meridian, MS)
- Sons: Edward Samples (New York City), Dewey Riley (New York City), Peter Riley (Lake, MS)
- 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren
Funeral arrangements were handled by Jones Brothers Mortuary, and she was laid to rest at Fletcher Cemetery.
Enduring Significance
Laura Ann Young Riley’s life forms a powerful bridge between centuries. Born into the fragile beginnings of freedom and living into the modern era, she carried her family through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, and into a new world of possibility.
Her story is not only one of longevity, but of continuity—of a woman who held together generations, instilled resilience, and ensured that her family’s roots in Newton County would extend far beyond Mississippi.
Family Summary Table
| Relation | Name(s) Mentioned in Records |
|---|---|
| Parents | Alfred and Rebecca Young |
| Husband | John Riley |
| Sons | Edward Samples, Dewey Riley, Elijah Riley, Booker T. Riley, Peter Riley |
| Daughters | Ernestine King, Bertha Dixon, Laura Clanton, Johnnie Bernice Derricks, Carrie Riley, Lena, Geneva |
| Birthplace | Newton County, Mississippi |
| Final Residence | Lima, Ohio |
Resting Place
Fletcher Cemetery, Lima, Ohio
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1870 Federal Census
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2022
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The Lima News, Laura Ann Riley Obituary, Sun, Mar 13, 1960 ·Page 4
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