Mary was born in April 2, 1849 in Richmond Hill, York County, Ontario, Canada. She is the 7th of 13 children. Mary is the daughter of Peter Riel and Mary G (Klinck) Riel.

The Riel siblings are:

Rosanna Riel Goodman Church Higgs (1838 - 1919)*
Sarah Catherine Riel Evans (1839 - 1925)*
Mary Margaret Riel (1841 - 1916)*
Leonard Riel (1843 - 1918)*
Martha Riel (1845 - 1916)*
John Wesley Riel (1847 - 1934)*
Mary A Riel King (1849 - 1927)*
William James Riel (1851 - 1851)*
Arilla Riel (1853 - 1933)*
Joseph Riel (1855 - 1855)*
Josephine Riel (1855 - 1855)*
Peter Leslie Riel (1857 - 1938)*
Emma S Riel McNeal (1859 - 1948)*

Mary's family immigrated to the US in 1850, when Mary was an infant. The Riel family settled in Princeville, Illinois, where they purchased a farm. The Riel farm was nearby the farm of one of the King brothers.

Mary wed Henry J. King, in 1880. Henry had been widowed for quite some time. Mary was his 2nd wife. Mary became step-mother to Henry's 2 girls Nancy (called Nannie) & Sarah (called Sadie).

On October 15, 1885, Mary & Henry were blessed with the birth of their only living child, Rose.

In 1919, daughter Rose married Hudson Gresham. Rose and her husband moved Mary & Henry to Denver, Colorado. Hudson built 2 matching houses, side by side. One for Mary & Henry and one for he and Rose.

Mary & Henry lived out the rest of their lives in Denver, next door to their daughter and son-in-law Rose & Hudson Gresham.

Mary passed away at 78 years of age.

Mary is my maternal Great-Grandmother.

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Written by my grandmother...

THE RIEL FAMILY
By Mrs. Rose King Gresham, 1920

___Peter Riel was born June 4, 1814 at Niagara, Canada. He was married to Mary Klinck who was born May 21, 1817 at Richmond Hill, Canada, about fifteen miles west of the pretty city of Toronto. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following were born in Canada: Rosanna, (Mrs. Joseph Higgs) March 12, 1838, (deceased); Sarah Catherine, (Mrs. Walter Evans) August 31, 1839, Chillicothe, Ill.; Margaret, April 25, 1841, (deceased) ; Leonard, April 27, 1843, (deceased); Martha, September 1,1845, (deceased) ; John Wesley, April 8,1847, Peoria, Ill.; Mary, (Mrs. Henry King) April 2, 1849, Denver, Colo. Those born after coming to Illinois were William James, May 27, 1851, (died in infancy) ; Arilla, August 31, 1853, Princeville, Ill.; Peter Leslie, August 30, 1857, Princeville, Ill.; Joseph and Josephine, twins, (died in infancy); Emma, (Mrs. Lynn McNeal) Nov. 10, 1859.
___Mr. and Mrs. Riel lived in Canada until 1850, when they journeyed to Illinois by team and covered wagon which seemed to be the most popular way of travel at that time. With them they brought their dog "Danger" which followed closely by foot all the way. In the excitement of getting across the Illinois river, the dog was forgotten. He, not meaning to be left behind, swam across, safely reaching the opposite side.
___The wagon of Mr. Riel and family was followed for some distance by a band of what was thought to be highwaymen. One member of the Riel family overheard a conversation in which it was agreed upon that all should be killed but the baby, who happens to be none other than the writer's mother, Mrs. Henry King. They were thrown off the trail by the family stopping over night at a farmhouse. We cannot help but wonder what would have been the life of the "baby" had these plans been carried out.
___The first two months in Illinois were spent in Peoria. From there, Mr. Riel took his family to Princeville. Records show that on Oct. 31, 1850 he purchased the East One-half of the Northwest quarter of section 26, paying $450 for this eighty acres. Later, he purchased more land, making one hundred sixty acres in all. They first built a small brick house, but, later, a larger and better one.
___Mr. and Mrs. Riel were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as were their children. They were a conscientious and industrious people. Little is known of Mr. Riel's earlier life, but after coming to Illinois, he, as did all early settlers, had many hardships to face and difficulties to overcome. It was thru hard work that he and his wife made for themselves and family a home.
___Mrs. Riel came from a family noted for their longevity. She was the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Grant Klinck, who lived to be 105 years of age. A sister, Mrs. Zilla McMurtry, died a few years ago in Lacon, Ill., at the age of 101.
___The writer, often, when a child, delighted to sit at Grandma's knee and listen to the interesting stories told of many exciting experiences had in the earlier days with the Canadian Indians. She was of a cheerful disposition, and it is remembered that only a short time previous to her death, she was seen playing a joke on one of ber grandchildren.
___Mrs. Riel was also noted for her generosity. Never was a person in want turned from her door without the help she could give. Even though her house was filled and crowded, there was always room (even though necessary to make a bed on the floor) for the stranger who needed shelter for the night. Many times entire families were protected from the storm or the cold under her hospitable roof. No questions asked. The mere fact that help was needed was sufficient. On one instance a family, including several small children, was taken in, and, it is believed, were actually saved from freezing to death. They were moving across country and the weather was bitter cold. The mother said to Mrs. Riel "God bless you, dear woman, you have saved my children. We have tried for miles around and none would take us in."
___Mr. Riel died May 4,1879 on the farm where they had lived since settling in Princeville Township. His wife died August 23 1902 in the town of Princeville, where she had moved some time after her husband's death. Both are resting in the Princeville Cemetery.

Copyright ©1966, Mrs. Rose King Gresham
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Please do NOT copy this page, all or in part for reprint or post on any other site. Thank you.

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Betty L. Gonzales, thank you so much, for your help!

The beautiful cemetery photos and the photos of the Family Plot are very kindly provided by Betty L. Gonzales, to whom we will be forever grateful.

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Thank you "Noname" for so kindly sponsoring my G-Grandma Mary. I shall be forever grateful.

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