Son of Oliver W. Riker and Mureda Calkins, husband of Sarah Rebecca Terry and father of Preston E. Terry, Margaret "Maggie" and John Ellis Riker.
William Riker served in the 5 NY Heavy Artillery.
In 1860, William Riker, aged 29, was living in Barrington, Yates Co., New York, with his wife, Sarah Riker, aged 30. He was shown to be a farm laborer.
On June 7, 1860, William Riker was appointed U.S. Postmaster of Holtsville, New York, and was replaced by William Snedeker, who was appointed January 9, 1864.
In 1865, William Riker, aged 38, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 25, and son, Preston E. Terry Riker, aged 6, in the home of his in-laws, Scudder Terry, aged 67, a farmer, and Catherine Terry, aged 65, with Thomas R. Terry, aged 24, a farmer, and Josephine A. Terry, aged 7. He was shown to be a farmer.
In 1870, William Riker, aged 40, a farmer, was living in Brookhaven, New York, post office Port Jefferson, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 30. Also living in the household were Brewster Ruland, aged 32, Richard Brock, aged 33, and Thomas Jones, aged 40, who all worked for the Long Island Railroad.
In 1880, William Riker, aged 55, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 40, and adopted daughter, Maggie Walker, aged 15. He was shown to be a farmer.
Obituary - With unfeigned sorry we chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens, Mr. William Riker. He came to this place 32 years ago, and during that time has seen many of his friends and neighbors pass away. He was always the first one of the neighbors to go to minister to the sick and dying, and always carried sunshine into the sick room. He was foremost in every public advancement and was an especial friend of the cause of education. He served as school Trustee for many years, and later was Collector. He will be missed, and his place we fear, cannot readily be filled. Mr. Riker answered the call for recruits in our late Civil War, and remained until till the close of the conflict. He was a descendent of the family of Rikers, of Riker Island, in the East River. He was very charitable and gave considerable to the poor and food and shelter to the hungry and weary traveler. He was our first postmaster. When the application was made for the establishment of the office here Postmaster-General Holt was in office, and Mr. Riker proposed the name of Holtsville, which was satisfactory and the office was established 29 years ago. The widow and friends of our deceased neighbor have our deepest sympathy. We commend them to our Heavenly Father for comfort in this hour of bereavement.
On December 18, 1889, his widow, Sarah R. Riker, applied for widow's benefits.
(Long Island Surnames; William Riker in the U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971; 1865 New York State Census; 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 US Federal Census; South Side Signal (Babylon), Saturday, April 13, 1889, Page: 3; U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for William R Riker, Rigby, Wm. H.--Rinier, Peter)
William Riker served in the 5 NY Heavy Artillery.
In 1860, William Riker, aged 29, was living in Barrington, Yates Co., New York, with his wife, Sarah Riker, aged 30. He was shown to be a farm laborer.
On June 7, 1860, William Riker was appointed U.S. Postmaster of Holtsville, New York, and was replaced by William Snedeker, who was appointed January 9, 1864.
In 1865, William Riker, aged 38, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 25, and son, Preston E. Terry Riker, aged 6, in the home of his in-laws, Scudder Terry, aged 67, a farmer, and Catherine Terry, aged 65, with Thomas R. Terry, aged 24, a farmer, and Josephine A. Terry, aged 7. He was shown to be a farmer.
In 1870, William Riker, aged 40, a farmer, was living in Brookhaven, New York, post office Port Jefferson, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 30. Also living in the household were Brewster Ruland, aged 32, Richard Brock, aged 33, and Thomas Jones, aged 40, who all worked for the Long Island Railroad.
In 1880, William Riker, aged 55, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 40, and adopted daughter, Maggie Walker, aged 15. He was shown to be a farmer.
Obituary - With unfeigned sorry we chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens, Mr. William Riker. He came to this place 32 years ago, and during that time has seen many of his friends and neighbors pass away. He was always the first one of the neighbors to go to minister to the sick and dying, and always carried sunshine into the sick room. He was foremost in every public advancement and was an especial friend of the cause of education. He served as school Trustee for many years, and later was Collector. He will be missed, and his place we fear, cannot readily be filled. Mr. Riker answered the call for recruits in our late Civil War, and remained until till the close of the conflict. He was a descendent of the family of Rikers, of Riker Island, in the East River. He was very charitable and gave considerable to the poor and food and shelter to the hungry and weary traveler. He was our first postmaster. When the application was made for the establishment of the office here Postmaster-General Holt was in office, and Mr. Riker proposed the name of Holtsville, which was satisfactory and the office was established 29 years ago. The widow and friends of our deceased neighbor have our deepest sympathy. We commend them to our Heavenly Father for comfort in this hour of bereavement.
On December 18, 1889, his widow, Sarah R. Riker, applied for widow's benefits.
(Long Island Surnames; William Riker in the U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971; 1865 New York State Census; 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 US Federal Census; South Side Signal (Babylon), Saturday, April 13, 1889, Page: 3; U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for William R Riker, Rigby, Wm. H.--Rinier, Peter)
Son of Oliver W. Riker and Mureda Calkins, husband of Sarah Rebecca Terry and father of Preston E. Terry, Margaret "Maggie" and John Ellis Riker.
William Riker served in the 5 NY Heavy Artillery.
In 1860, William Riker, aged 29, was living in Barrington, Yates Co., New York, with his wife, Sarah Riker, aged 30. He was shown to be a farm laborer.
On June 7, 1860, William Riker was appointed U.S. Postmaster of Holtsville, New York, and was replaced by William Snedeker, who was appointed January 9, 1864.
In 1865, William Riker, aged 38, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 25, and son, Preston E. Terry Riker, aged 6, in the home of his in-laws, Scudder Terry, aged 67, a farmer, and Catherine Terry, aged 65, with Thomas R. Terry, aged 24, a farmer, and Josephine A. Terry, aged 7. He was shown to be a farmer.
In 1870, William Riker, aged 40, a farmer, was living in Brookhaven, New York, post office Port Jefferson, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 30. Also living in the household were Brewster Ruland, aged 32, Richard Brock, aged 33, and Thomas Jones, aged 40, who all worked for the Long Island Railroad.
In 1880, William Riker, aged 55, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 40, and adopted daughter, Maggie Walker, aged 15. He was shown to be a farmer.
Obituary - With unfeigned sorry we chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens, Mr. William Riker. He came to this place 32 years ago, and during that time has seen many of his friends and neighbors pass away. He was always the first one of the neighbors to go to minister to the sick and dying, and always carried sunshine into the sick room. He was foremost in every public advancement and was an especial friend of the cause of education. He served as school Trustee for many years, and later was Collector. He will be missed, and his place we fear, cannot readily be filled. Mr. Riker answered the call for recruits in our late Civil War, and remained until till the close of the conflict. He was a descendent of the family of Rikers, of Riker Island, in the East River. He was very charitable and gave considerable to the poor and food and shelter to the hungry and weary traveler. He was our first postmaster. When the application was made for the establishment of the office here Postmaster-General Holt was in office, and Mr. Riker proposed the name of Holtsville, which was satisfactory and the office was established 29 years ago. The widow and friends of our deceased neighbor have our deepest sympathy. We commend them to our Heavenly Father for comfort in this hour of bereavement.
On December 18, 1889, his widow, Sarah R. Riker, applied for widow's benefits.
(Long Island Surnames; William Riker in the U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971; 1865 New York State Census; 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 US Federal Census; South Side Signal (Babylon), Saturday, April 13, 1889, Page: 3; U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for William R Riker, Rigby, Wm. H.--Rinier, Peter)
William Riker served in the 5 NY Heavy Artillery.
In 1860, William Riker, aged 29, was living in Barrington, Yates Co., New York, with his wife, Sarah Riker, aged 30. He was shown to be a farm laborer.
On June 7, 1860, William Riker was appointed U.S. Postmaster of Holtsville, New York, and was replaced by William Snedeker, who was appointed January 9, 1864.
In 1865, William Riker, aged 38, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 25, and son, Preston E. Terry Riker, aged 6, in the home of his in-laws, Scudder Terry, aged 67, a farmer, and Catherine Terry, aged 65, with Thomas R. Terry, aged 24, a farmer, and Josephine A. Terry, aged 7. He was shown to be a farmer.
In 1870, William Riker, aged 40, a farmer, was living in Brookhaven, New York, post office Port Jefferson, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 30. Also living in the household were Brewster Ruland, aged 32, Richard Brock, aged 33, and Thomas Jones, aged 40, who all worked for the Long Island Railroad.
In 1880, William Riker, aged 55, was living in Brookhaven, New York, with his wife, Sarah R. Riker, aged 40, and adopted daughter, Maggie Walker, aged 15. He was shown to be a farmer.
Obituary - With unfeigned sorry we chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens, Mr. William Riker. He came to this place 32 years ago, and during that time has seen many of his friends and neighbors pass away. He was always the first one of the neighbors to go to minister to the sick and dying, and always carried sunshine into the sick room. He was foremost in every public advancement and was an especial friend of the cause of education. He served as school Trustee for many years, and later was Collector. He will be missed, and his place we fear, cannot readily be filled. Mr. Riker answered the call for recruits in our late Civil War, and remained until till the close of the conflict. He was a descendent of the family of Rikers, of Riker Island, in the East River. He was very charitable and gave considerable to the poor and food and shelter to the hungry and weary traveler. He was our first postmaster. When the application was made for the establishment of the office here Postmaster-General Holt was in office, and Mr. Riker proposed the name of Holtsville, which was satisfactory and the office was established 29 years ago. The widow and friends of our deceased neighbor have our deepest sympathy. We commend them to our Heavenly Father for comfort in this hour of bereavement.
On December 18, 1889, his widow, Sarah R. Riker, applied for widow's benefits.
(Long Island Surnames; William Riker in the U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971; 1865 New York State Census; 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 US Federal Census; South Side Signal (Babylon), Saturday, April 13, 1889, Page: 3; U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 for William R Riker, Rigby, Wm. H.--Rinier, Peter)
Inscription
Died Apr. 8, 1889
Age 62 Yrs.
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
