Riley is said to be the first white child born in the Willamina area. The Indians gave Riley the nickname of “Lylee”.

Riley married Susanna Egentine Campbell (1856-1922) on December 10, 1876 in Willamina, Oregon.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORDS OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY 1900
RILEY Y. FENDALL

A native son of Oregon, Riley Yates Fendall has improved the opportunities which were his from the earliest years of his boyhood, making a success for himself through the cultivation of the soil, being the life to which he was reared. He was born on the Old Donation Land Claim taken up by his father in the pioneer days of Oregon, September 17, 1852, and was there reared to a practical and useful life, interspersing his home duties with an attendance at the common schools. Later he attended the public schools at Willamina, a considerable distance from his home, sometimes riding, but oftener walking to and for in his efforts to add to his knowledge of the life of a farmer the education that enables a farmer to be an exception to the general average.
When twenty-two years of age he and his brother bought a part of the land adjoining that where Mr. Fendall now resides, and two years later, December 6, 1876, he married Miss Susie E. Campbell the daughter of Peter and Sophronia Campbell. For two years after his marriage he remained on the home place, at the close of that period moving upon a part of his present property. Ten years later he removed himself to his present location, this having been his home since. Mr. Fendall has put upon his property nearly all of the improvements of which it boasts, and has given to the cultivation careful thought and an earnest effort to excel in that to which he has devoted his time and attention. He now owns three hundred and twenty-seven acres, principally located in the valley, and is at present engaged in carrying on general farming and stock-raising, and for twelve years was interested in hop cultivation.
Of the children which blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fendall, Roxie M. is now the wife of C. E. Mendenhall; and Guy H., Claude S., Carrie E., Lucia E., and Cullie S. make their home with their parents. Politically Mr. Fendall adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party.