James M. Riley (April 11, 1854 – December 10, 1913) was an American politician from New York.

Life

Riley was born on April 11, 1854, in Troy, New York. His parents were John Riley and Mary Higgins. After finishing public school, he worked in his father's pipe-covering business. The business later became the Troy Salamander Foundry Company, with Riley as its president and treasurer. He was elected alderman in 1886 and 1887 as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

in what was considered a Republican stronghold. In 1889, Riley was elected to the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

, representing the Rensselaer County 1st District. He served in the Assembly in

1890 Events January–March * January 1 ** The Kingdom of Italy establishes Eritrea as its colony, in the Horn of Africa. ** In Michigan, the wooden steamer ''Mackinaw'' burns in a fire on the Black River. * January 2 ** The steamship ...

1891 Events January–March * January 1 ** Paying of old age pensions begins in Germany. ** A strike of 500 Hungarian steel workers occurs; 3,000 men are out of work as a consequence. **Germany takes formal possession of its new Africa ...

, and

1892 Events January–March * January 1 – Ellis Island begins accommodating immigrants to the United States. * February 1 - The historic Enterprise Bar and Grill was established in Rico, Colorado. * February 27 – Rudolf Diesel applies for ...

. While in the Assembly, he introduced a number of bills related to canals, including one for the improvement of the Hudson River, another for widening of the

Champlain Canal The Champlain Canal is a canal in New York that connects the Hudson River to the south end of Lake Champlain. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal for use by commercial vessels, fully opening in 1823. Today, it is mostly used by ...

, another for the dredging of the Erie basin, and another for the restoration of locks on the

Black River Canal The Black River Canal was a canal built in northern New York in the United States to connect the Erie Canal to the Black River. The canal had 109 locks along its length. Remains of several of the canal's former locks are visible along New York ...

and Erie Canal. He also proposed several bills related to prison labor, including one to prohibit employing state prisons of more than 100 men from making collars and cuffs, one on the employment of convicts on roads, and one for the branding of goods made in state prisons as prison-made. In 1899, Riley was appointed a member of the Municipal Service Civil Commission and was quickly chosen as its chairman. He was later appointed Secretary of the Board of Contract and Supply. He was a member of the Trojan Hook and Ladder Company since 1872, and a trustee of the Exempt Firemen's Association. Riley died at home on December 10, 1913. He was buried in

St. Agnes Cemetery St. Agnes Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery established in 1867. Located in Menands, New York, St. Agnes Cemetery is managed and cared for by Albany Diocesan Cemeteries. St. Agnes Cemetery was consecrated in 1867 and has features characterist ...

in Albany.

References

External links

*
The Political Graveyard
' {{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, James M. 1854 births 1913 deaths Politicians from Troy, New York New York (state) local politicians Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly 19th-century American legislators Burials at St. Agnes Cemetery