William Wommack RILEY

                   Historical information included in notes.

Pg 108 of Records to 11th Quarum of Seventy (GS film 025,553) Salt Lake FHLWilliam Wommick Riley, the son of Eliphas and Elizabeth Riley, who the son of Eliphas and Sarah Riley, who was the son of Samuel Riley, was born February 8, 1813 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. In 1816 his father removed to Dixon County, Tennessee, about 60 miles from thence in 1819 to Wayne County Tennessee, about 50 miles, and there in the year 1825 he became a member of the Methodist, being 12 years old and in 1829, his father removed to Bond County, Illinois, where there was but little religious excitement and he soon forgot his piety and joined in with the young and thoughtless in what he thought the wicked practices of the bar room. In 1832 in a severe spell of sickness, he made a covenant with the Lord if he would spare his life he would get religion. His life was spared and he joined the Methodist again and about the same time he left his fahter and went to Hillsborough, Montgomery County, Illinois and there set in to learn the Carpenters and Joiners trade and continued at that employment until the 2nd day of Nov 1834 when he was married to Charity Sasnett, daughter of John and Charity Sasnett. In 1836, he removed with his wife to a farm which he had purchased in Bond County and in 1839 he sold his farm nd went to Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. Himself and wife continued faithful members of the Methodist Church until the 28 Dec 1839, when they were baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder John Herrott and was ordained a teacher by Elder David ??? January 19, 1840, and on the 4th Day of October, 1840 he was ordained an Elder at a General Conference at Nauvoo under the hands of Elder C.C. Rich and after he had took a short mission to preach in the state, he removed to Springfield, Illinois in August 1841 and was then ordained an Elder in the Quorum of Seventies under the hands of Joseph Young 23 April 1842. On the 22 April 1842 he raised a company was elected Captain of the same Aug 5, 1843. It was the second company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Cohort, Nauvoo Legion. On 7 May 1844 he started a mission to Tennessee and was there when he heard of the death of the prophet and patriarch at Carthage, and after a severe spell of sickness he returned to Nauvoo January 30, 1845 and was attached to the 11th Quorum of Seventies March 12, 1845.