The Hobert Risley Family
Silas Risley-Ben Risley-Oliver Risley-Virgil Risley-Hobert Risley-Joy Risley Tilton
A story from Joy Risley Tilton When Mom and Dad married in 1946, they decided to move to California for better wages. They lived there until 1949, then returned to Lead Hill and built a house on the farm. It had to be a wonderful feeling to be back home, close to family. That house eventually would be home to my Grandparents, Clay and Selva Keeling and at retirement became Mom and Dad's once again. The Keeling's had owned the farm since 1860, when Abel Keeling came to the area from Tennessee. Abel and son's Thomas Weldon and Franklin Robert are mentioned in the Silas Turnbo Manuscripts talking about the homeplace in Locust Hollow, "They lived in a hollow that mouthed into Sugar Loaf Creek near the mill. The old country road lead up this same hollow from the mill to the crossing of White River at the mouth of Trimble’s Creek." My Dad's family were from the Peel area, his Mom and Dad were Virgil and Nola Smith Risley. They were both school teachers. There are many accounts of the Risley's in the Silas Turnbow Manuscripts, "Silas Risley was the first settler on the land known now as the sand field which is on the west bank of Little North Fork just above where Paton Keesee lived many years ago known now as the "Dug" Price Place. Here in this sandy bottom Silas Risley cleared one acre of land and planted it in corn and I am reliably informed that he raised 100 bushels of corn off of this acre of land."
My Dad (Hobert Risley) loved preparing his famous chicken and dressing for the holidays. It was his offering, as much from his heart as from the simple ingredients that went into the dish. He had made it so many times for family and church potlucks that he could have made it in his sleep! If you’re from the South, it’s cornbread dressing made with unsweetened cornbread. Sauteed onions, celery and sage; slow simmered broth from the chicken and generous amounts of butter make this a cardiologist's nightmare! But it is “Slap Dab Delicious” and comfort food at it’s finest!
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Oberman's Garment Factory Harrison, AR. 1945- Mom worked here during WWII, bar tacking Levi's! She lived right across the street in Mrs. Cochran's house, later on it became Rockhouse BBQ! Continued from left
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Oliver Lee Risley and Nancy Elizabeth Ledbetter Risley- married Sept.19,1875
Back L-R May Risley Groves, Alice Risley Yocham, 2nd row Virgil Risley, Oliver Risley, Nancy Ledbetter Risley, Ross Risley front row Troy Risley, Minta Risley Farmer, John Risley.
Oliver Risley (b. 4-22-1852 Ozark County, Mo. d. 2-24-1930 Peel, Ar.) was the Grandson of Silas & Catherine Adams, and son of Ben.
Nancy Ledbetter (b.1-29-1858 Texas County, Mo. d. 3-24-1933 Marion County, Ar.) was the daughter of Jones Ledbetter and Cathrine Nation Ledbetter.
Both are buried at Peel Cemetery Marion County, Ar.
They were the parents to Lilly Mae Risley Groves, Alice Risley Yocham, Virgil Elmo Risley, Ross Lee Risley, Troy Benton Risley, Arminta Risley Farmer, John Oliver Risley and Burl Risley.