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Aden Riordan (1872 - 1931)
Birth, Parents & Siblings
Aden was born on October 4th, 1872, in Canmer, Kentucky, Hart County as a first-generation Irish American. His parents, Thomas Francis Riordan and Elizabeth (Bettse) Reynolds were approximately 40 and 35 years old, respectively, at the time. His father emigrated from Ballingarry, Ireland, Limerick County, a small village of less than 500 residents located about 20 miles southwest of Limerick City and about 12 miles south of the village of Adare in approximately 1849.
Aden was the seventh of nine children, including James Edward (1859-1921), Archibald Wilder (1861-1937), Thomas Hooker (1863-1930), Mary Catherine (1865-1949), Albert Emmett (1868-1905), John Porter (1870-1947), Samuel Tilden (1875-1896), Elizabeth (1878-1899).
Growing up
In August of 1870, Thomas’ father, Aden’s grandfather, died in Ireland before Aden was born. Five years later, Thomas’ mother, Aden’s grandmother, died in 1875 in Kentucky, four years after arriving in America, when Aden was 3.
In the Hart County, Kentucky 1880 census his father, Thomas, is listed as farmer and wife, Elizabeth’s, occupation listed as “farming house”. The children still living at home include Thomas Hooker (18), Mary (15), Robert (12), John Porter (10), Aden (8) - the census indicates that he is attending school, Samuel T (4), Elizabeth (2).
According to Wilcoxson & Allied Families by Dorothy F. Wulfeck, after Aden’s parents, Thomas and Elizabeth, were married they built a home across the road from the Reynolds home [in Canmer]. According to "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, “About 1858 he [Aden’s father, Thomas] was married in the Blue Grass state and settled upon a farm which remained his home until his death”. Based on these accounts, it is likely that Aden continued to grow up in Canmer, Kentucky and lived at home on the farm with his parents.
Marriage & Children
On October 28th, 1897, Aden married Ellen (Nell) King Martin in Nashville, Tennessee, Davidson County, when she was 22 years old and he was 25 years old.
Perhaps the way they met had something to do with Aden’s father’s occupation as a stagecoach driver on the Nashville to Louisville route in the 1850s.
They had three children, including Horace Burton “Burt” (1898–1984), Aden Wilbun 1901-1971) and Edwin Leon (1907-1969).
Aden’s father died when he was 19 years old and his mother died when he was 23 years old, both before he was married and had children.
Adulthood
After getting married in Nashville in 1987, it seems likely that they returned to Canmer or settled in Cave City to start their life together.
According to the 1900 Census in Cave City, Aden is said to be a drugist. Aden, Nell and Horace are listed as living at home. Nell’s brother, Leon Martin, was living with them at that time, too. Leon was 12 years old at the time the Census was taken. It also indicates that Aden’s mother was born in Virginia, but all other Census’ have her born in Kentucky.
Their son, Aden Wilbun, was born in 1901 in Cave City, Kentucky, approximately 17 miles from Canmer.
In 1904, at the age of 32, Aden and his family moved from Kentucky to Indianapolis. His obituary indicates that he made the move 27 years before his death in 1931.
According to the 1910 Census, he is said to be a painter. At that time the household included Nell, Horace, Aden W. and Edwin. At this point they are living in Indianapolis at 625 Birch Avenue (text is blurry so this may not be the exact address).
According to an article in the Indianapolis News on July 11, 1916, seventeen people, including several members of Aden’s family, were bitten by a dog he owned. As a result, these seventeen people began treatment for rabies prevention at The Pathological Laboratories. The article includes a photo of all seventeen patients and the laboratory staff with Aden featured in the middle standing watch over his family.
According to his World War I draft registration in 1918, he is listed as a Groceryman (self-employed). The address of his employment is listed as 1363 Blaine, while his residence is listed as 1436 Oliver Avenue. On the draft registration card, he is described as tall, slender with brown eyes and brown hair.
According to the 1920 Census, he is again listed as a Grocer. At that time, Nell, Horace (21), Aden W. (18) and Edwin (12) are all still living at home, one they are renting at 1436 Oliver Avenue. On this Census, the spelling of last name was incorrectly recorded as Rijordian.
Based on information in his obituary, he would have contracted tuberculosis first in 1926.
According to the 1930 Census they are living at 512 (North) Bancroft Street in Indianapolis. Neither Aden nor Nell were working any longer. At that time, Horace, 31, is a drug salesman and Edwin, 22, is unemployed, both still living at home. Aden Wilbun is no longer living at home at the time of this census because he was already married in 1928.
His final home location was 2458 College Avenue at the time of his death.
Although he was historically employed on Census registrations as a grocer, his death certificate listed him as a painter.
Death
Aden died on November 6, 1931, in Indianapolis, Indiana in his home at 2458 College Avenue on a Friday. His primary cause of death was listed as a pulmonary hemorrhage with a secondary cause listed as pulmonary tuberculosis, which he had for approximately five years. He was 59 years old. The funeral services were held at his home followed by burial in the Crown Hill cemetery. His wife was the informant and all three of his children were living in Indianapolis at the time and attended his funeral. In addition, his sister Mary Catherine Riordan King of Cave City, Kentucky, brother Archibald Wilder Riordan of Hot Springs, South Dakota, and brother John Porter Riordan of Wellington, Kansas, attended his funeral. Sec: 43, Lot: 6276, memorial ID 46002815. His wife, Nell, survived him by another 17 years.
Capturing Memories: An Ancestral Photo Album
Aden at Pathological Laboratory in Indianapolis for rabies tests for his family
Aden's Gravestone
Broader view of Aden's gravestone
Article in the Indianapolis News about the rabies treatment for his family and others.
Full photo of the group receiving rabies treatment. Aden top, center.
Crown Hill Cemetery burial locations for Aden and Nell.