From "History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens" by S. S. Scranton, published in 1907, pgs. 314.

James Watson Riley, the eldest of the above family, became one of Mercer County's most distinguished men. He was born in Middletown, Connecticut, February 20, 1804. When he was 19 years of age, he assisted his father in surveying Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio and Indiana. Before he had reached his majority he was appointed clerk of courts of Mercer County. At that time the county seat was St. Marys, but in 1839 it was moved to Celina. This position he held for a period of 20 years, resigning it in 1841 to take charge of the United States Land Office at Lima, being one of President William Henry Harrison's first appointees.

James Watson Riley was originally a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he became one of the earliest and stanchest supporters of the new organization. In 1843 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature and subsequently was appointed chief clerk of the State auditor. Upon his resignation of this position, he returned to Celina, always having been deeply interested in the development of this place. In 1853 he removed to Sandusky in order to give his younger children better educational advantages, and became attorney for the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad Company. His death occurred at Celina, January 1, 1870, from an accident received at Toledo.

In September, 1827, Mr. Riley married Susan Ellis, of Alexander, New York, and they had six children born to them, namely: William Willshire, a physician and statesment, at Judsonia, Arkansas; Calvin Erastus, president of the Commercial Bank Company of Celina; Amelia Ann, deceased, formerly wife of Capt. William McMurray, a hero of the Civil War; James Watson, Jr., residing in Celina, who distinguished himself in the Civil War; Susan (wife of Hon. E.M. Ashley, of Denver, Colorado), who was one of the vice-presidents of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and the first president of the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs; and Mahala, who is the wife of Judge A.J. Hodder, a prominent resident of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Riley also reared and adopted six orphan children.