Jane Elizabeth Reilly

See 1880 census which lists her as single and a school teacher.

John Poff was the first husband of "Jane," the mother of my grandmother, Vera (Reilly) Thompson sometime around 1885 or 1886. By John, Jane had "Alice May" in 1886; but he must have died about a year later, because by 1888 Jane had married "James Reilly" by whom she had two children, Vera, my grandmother, and Orville. The 1880 census had reported that Jane was single and a school teacher, but by 1885/6 she married John Poff and by 1888 she "jumped into the fire" and married James Reilly, perhaps so she could have a father for her young child, Alice May, my grandmother's half sister.

Unfortunately, her second husband, James Reilley has always been reported by all oral family tradition to have had a serious drinking problem to have abandoned his family. Vera is reported by Mary Steiner Hermanson to have frequently and loudly articlulated her father's drinking problem.

• *************************************************

"Auntie May (Poeff) sent us each a silk bonnet and O'S sent buntings and dresses. Ma Reilly gave us cereal sets and Ma Thompson hose." -- from "First Gifts" in "Little Baby's Big Days" baby book of Nancy Thompson

• ****************************************************

On Xmas of 1929, she was at her daughter, Vera's house, to have Xmas dinner. It was also the first and only Xmas dinner of Nathalie May, born just 20 days ealier. Twelve others were present, including Fred's mother, Venetta. Jane Elizabeth Reilly is referred to as "Ma Reilly" by Vera in written references.

• ******************************

We have seen a newspaper article that said she died in the home of her daughter Vera.