october july american writer poet best selling author lifetime known poet children poet dialect works children poetry respectively poems tended humorous sentimental approximately thousand poems riley authored majority dialect famous works include little annie man riley began career writing verses sign maker submitting poetry newspapers thanks endorsement poet eventually earned successive jobs indiana newspaper publishers 1870s riley gradually rose prominence 1880s poetry reading tours traveled touring circuit midwest nationally holding shows making joint appearances stage famous talents regularly struggling alcohol addiction riley married children created scandal drunk perform popular spite bad press received result poorly negotiated contracts limited earnings quickly wealthy riley author 1890s children poems compiled book illustrated titled rhymes childhood book popular sold millions copies poet riley achieved uncommon level fame lifetime honored annual celebrations united_states regularly called perform readings national civic events continued write hold occasional poetry readings stroke paralyzed right arm riley chief legacy influence creation cultural identity contributions golden age indiana literature writers era helped create caricature formed literary community produced works established eastern memorials dedicated riley including james riley hospital children early life family background born october town indiana children riley father attorney year riley birth elected member democrat developed friendship governor indiana named son riley uncle amateur poet occasionally wrote verses local newspapers riley fond uncle helped influence early interest poetry shortly riley birth family moved larger house town riley quiet boy eye shut observed speculated mother taught read write home sending local community school found school difficult frequently trouble punished kind teachers writings poem educator told intelligent sinister teacher based instructors riley fond teacher harris noticed riley interest poetry reading encouraged pursue riley school attendance sporadic graduated grade age newspaper article riley confessed knew little mathematics geography science understanding proper grammar poor later critics like pointed poor education reason success writing prose written language common people spurred popularity childhood influences riley lived parents home years old years old began spending time creek outside poems boy old hole referred time creek introduced childhood people later influenced poetry father regularly brought home variety clients people assistance riley poem man based german father hired work family home riley picked character dialect central indiana travelers old national road speech greatly influenced hundreds poems wrote nineteenth century dialect riley mother frequently told stories giants read children poems influenced riley beliefs placed spirit homes places like tables capture spirits wandering influence recognized works including flying islands night common time riley friends toys activities mother aid riley began creating plays friends practice perform local grocery store grew older boys named troupe began shows fit larger audiences riley wrote early performances poem played referred riley poems filled musical references riley musical education read sheet music learned father play guitar friend play violin performed different local bands proficient violin invited play group adult events later poems set music song known short bread song riley years old library opened hometown early age developed love literature friends spent time library librarian read stories poems riley favorites helped inspire poems christmas season god riley father enlisted union_army american_civil_war leaving wife manage family home away family took year old orphan named smith smith inspiration riley poem little annie riley intended poem little error changed poem printing finding poetry riley father returned war partially paralyzed unable continue working legal practice family soon fell financial distress war negative effect relationship family quickly deteriorated opposed riley interest poetry encouraged find different career family finances finally forced sell town home april return country farm riley mother able peace family death august heart disease riley father final break blamed mother death father failure care final weeks continued regret loss childhood home wrote frequently war subsequent poverty mother death events developed addiction alcohol struggled remainder life increasingly father riley moved family home briefly job painting houses leaving november recruited bible salesman began working nearby town indiana job provided little income returned march started painter completed study opened business creating maintaining signs earliest known poems verses wrote clever advertisements customers riley began participating local theater productions earn extra income winter months demand painting declined riley began writing poetry brother living indianapolis brother acted agent offered poems newspaper free poem featured march pseudonym riley wrote poems newspaper including featured page july convinced sales provide income sign painting joined based anderson indiana company sold patent marketed small traveling shows indiana riley joined act calling painter poet traveled act composing poetry performing shows act sold audience employing stop riley presented blind painter cured evidence encourage audience purchase product riley began sending poems brother february time friends began advertisement company men traveled indiana creating large billboard like signs sides buildings high places visible distance company financially successful riley continually drawn poetry october traveled took job painting verses signs month short duration job frequent time early riley returned writer time february submitted poem entitled connecticut newspaper editors accepted poem paid wrote letter encouraging submit riley found note payment inspiring began submitting poems regularly editors newspaper shut riley left paying publisher began traveling performing central indiana earn income searched new publisher august joined traveling run early career newspaper work riley began sending correspondence famous american poet late seeking endorsement help start career poet submitted poems considered greatest living poet receiving prompt response sent similar letters prominent writers endorsement finally replied brief letter telling riley read poems great pleasure think true poetic faculty insight riley carried letter hoping receive job offer create market poetry began sending poems dozens newspapers endorsement newspapers interest poems major republican_party metropolitan newspaper indiana poems newspaper purchased riley song new year nest short story entitled remarkable man editors anderson democrat discovered riley poems offered job reporter february riley accepted worked normal reporter gathering local news writing articles assisting setting printing press continued write poems regularly newspaper sell poems larger newspapers year riley spent working anderson met began court couple engaged terminated relationship decided marriage august rejection poems eastern periodical riley began plot prove work good quality rejected unknown east riley authored poem imitating style submitted fictitious claiming long lost poem dispatch published poem reported riley men plot waited weeks poem published major newspapers chicago boston new_york gauge reaction disappointed newspapers believed poem authentic majority claiming quality poor authored employee dispatch learned truth incident reported published expose riley hoax revelation damaged credibility dispatch harmed riley reputation aftermath plot riley dismissed democrat returned spend time writing poetry home met school teacher boarding father home found common particularly love literature couple began year intermittent relationship riley longest lasting couple breakup caused partly riley alcohol addiction event led riley attempt liquor joined local organization quit weeks performing poet steady income financial situation began deteriorate began submitting poems prominent literary magazines including monthly informed showed promise work short standards required use publications locally dealing stigma plot newspapers refused accept poetry leaving riley desperate income january advice friend riley paid entrance fee join traveling lecture circuit poetry readings exchange received portion profit performances earned circuits popular time riley quickly earned local reputation entertaining readings august riley followed indiana governor speaker civic event small town near indianapolis recited recently composed poem childhood home long ago telling life pioneer indiana poem received given good reviews newspapers night play riley wrote published authored riley traveling performed play similarities night dream riley model flying islands concerns kingdom besieged evil forces sinister queen defeated eventually angel like heroine reviews positive riley published play popular central indiana area late helping riley convince newspapers accept poetry november offered position columnist accepted encouraged paper chief editor play newspaper work helped expose wider audience chief source increasing popularity performances lecture circuit dramatic comedic readings poetry early guarantee large crowds performed article wrote riley celebrity resulted reading talent saying vibrant individual voice flexible lips united poet comedian comedian sense makes tears laughter good performer acts entirely original style frequently copied practices developed tour took city indiana introduced local dignitaries popular figures including began develop close friendship developing maintaining publicity constant job received attention fame grew keeping alcohol addiction secret maintaining persona simple rural poet friendly common person important riley identified traits basis popularity wrote need maintain fictional persona encouraged stereotype poetry thought help build identity aided editorials authored submitted offering observations events perspective humble rural poet changed appearance look mainstream began abandoning flamboyant dress employed early circuit tours poems beginning published nationally receiving positive reviews quit carried newspapers states thanks careful cultivation popularity riley frustrated despite growing acclaim found difficult achieve financial success early 1880s addition steady performing riley began producing poems increase income half poems written period constant labor adverse effects health worsened drinking urging attempted stop drinking liquor able months newspaper poet riley moved indianapolis end begin employment journal metropolitan newspaper indianapolis daily editions wide readership newspaper wrote regular society column included verses poetry riley met prominent people began close friendship enjoyed riley works complimented sentiments riley pseudonym started poetry finally began write april riley renewed relationship corresponded frequently relationship remained unstable riley deeply attached inspired poem told perfect wife suddenly demonic monster pressed riley marriage times riley refused broke relationship second time discovered correspondence women found taken secret vacation wisconsin riley alcohol addiction influenced poems time working journal including california sic dismal fate references caused drinking riley rarely published controversial poems published period including drug usage vague sexual references early 1880s riley submissions elite literary periodicals continued rejected riley found rejection believed recognized true literary figure prestigious periodicals published work circuit riley occasional reading tours indiana august invited perform performance impressed local psi chapter invited join honorary member fraternity met writer minister indianapolis area member prominent lecture circuit regular speakers included encouraged riley join circuit chicago branch riley accumulated debt low income began causing trouble decided rejoining lecture circuit provide needed funds agreement continued employment circuit depended ability draw audiences season beginning april succeeded drawing largest crowds chicago indianapolis success midwest circuit leaders invited east coast tour starting boston temple february riley agreed signing year agreement granting half receipts agent performance traveled home massachusetts convinced agree meeting brief meeting riley memories wrote lengthy article death month later encouraged riley focus poetry gave advice upcoming performance performance riley received poems greeted laughter given praise city newspaper reviews boston literary center united_states time riley impression city literary community helped finally work accepted prestigious periodicals periodical accept work running swimming time september issue 1890s remained major literary magazine publish riley work knowing high standards magazine riley reserved best work year submit including favorites old man jim end riley finances began improve dramatically thanks largely income performances began writing poems pseudonym poems entirely written dialect emphasized topics rural life early nineteenth century employing nostalgia simplicity country life elements old frost popular helped earn entire series critical acclaim topics popular readers reminding childhood later renamed approached riley poems book riley agreed printing book began august titled old poems book popularity necessitated second printing end year period riley determined popular poems topics rural life began use common theme future work income riley book allowed ease busy work schedule submitted articles journal frequently fewer lecture stops poems fewer quality poetry improved wrote famous poems including little annie sic riley attempted secure new job periodical leave journal magazines submitted hire willing relocate riley refusal leave indiana told reporters rural home inspiration leave ruin poetry riley renewed relationship final time corresponded frequently secret lovers rendezvous stopped visiting women relationship dedicated stable convinced riley seeing woman terminated relationship january riley sister mary close friend reputation affair found difficult find employment relationship ended riley tour major cities eastern united_states following lectures began compiling second book poetry completed july published december title boss girl christmas story sketches book contained humorous poetry short stories received mixed reviews popular indiana majority copies sold reviewer called poems weird eerie compared works riley working book unexpectedly invited agent nations major performers join nights engagement new_york_city included riley unable agree authorize performance terms contract riley believed contract limiting opportunities relationship agent strained partly limited success latest book outside indiana riley persuaded begin working writers attempt form association promote work writer author major promoter effort writers joined group held meeting july naming meeting named president riley vice president association succeeded goals creating powerful advertising force social club rival literary community eastern writing establishment riley disappointed shortcomings group came depend regular meetings escape normally schedule association riley acquainted notable writers united_states including chicago completing lecture circuit riley formed partnership agent begin new tour agreed allow riley tour provided maintained financial agreements addition touring riley collaborated write book collection humorous anecdotes poems intended parody popular tourist literature day published book somewhat successful october riley association joined writers petition united_states congress attempt negotiate international treaties protect american abroad group known significant success efforts traveling league meetings new_york_city year riley struck bell recovered weeks remained hide effects sickness believed caused alcohol addiction attempt stop drinking alcohol help minister soon returned old habit recovering riley remained briefly new_york participate hall riley introduced performance gave riley glowing endorsement crowd riley poetry brought tears laughter according critic foremost literary critics era present wrote riley dialect poems finest heard sic persona heart laid open subtle indirect absolutely sure tender poetry result new_york performance picture carried major eastern papers quickly known united_states sales boss girl increased resulting fifth largest printing riley finally began achieve widespread fame sought disliked riley attempted avoid future joint performances according review bitter patch melancholy fierce light riley humour returning home tour early riley finished compiling book titled arranged appeal british readers included dialect poems consisted book reprinted poems riley published included new ones wrote specifically book including days gone little white book riley favorite included finest works published prestigious green publishers high quality binding print late finished work fourth book pipes released great acclaim united_states based fictional town indiana riley presented stories poems citizens way life received mixed reviews literary critics wrote riley stories quality poetry book popular public went numerous riley quickly wealthy books touring earning nearly longer needed job journal left job near end year newspaper served earn fame published hundreds articles stories poems national fame politics march riley traveled washington dinner white house members president united_states cleveland riley brief performance dignitaries event speaking need international copyright cleveland riley performance invited private meeting men discussed cultural topics campaign riley acquaintance nominated republican candidate riley politics life gave harrison personal endorsement participated fund raising events vote election exceptionally partisan indiana riley found atmosphere campaign vowed involved politics harrison election suggested riley named national poet congress failed act request riley honored harrison visited white house occasions perform civic events pay problems scandal riley arrangements national tours tours popular generally sold hundreds having turned away shows usually minutes hour long featured riley reading humorous poetry interspersed stories jokes shows informal men adjusted performances based audiences reactions riley poems shows add versatility prominent literary theatrical people attended shows new_york_city march insisted hosting men banquet leading broadway theatre actors despite riley serving act main draw permitted equal partner venture pond received percentage net profit riley paid flat rate performance addition riley past agreements required pay half fee agent caused men profit riley work remedy situation riley hired brother law indianapolis banker manage finances act behalf try contract despite discussions assurances pond work address problem success pond ultimately situation worse booking months solid performances allowing riley day rest events affected riley physically emotionally began worst period alcoholism november tour forced cancel shows riley severely stop madison wisconsin walker began monitoring riley denying access liquor riley found ways evade walker stop louisville kentucky january riley paid hotel sneak whiskey room drunk perform unable travel stop terminated partnership tour response reason breakup kept secret hotel staff reported saw riley drunken walking hotel story national news riley feared career ruined secretly left louisville night returned indianapolis train defended riley press effort gain sympathy riley explaining abusive financial arrangements partners riley refused speak reporters hid weeks riley surprise news reports popular people thought stories exaggerated riley carefully cultivated image difficult public believe alcoholic riley stopped sending poetry newspapers magazines aftermath soon began corresponding requesting resume writing encouraged riley attempt liquor returned public career negative press end pond threatened sue riley causing tour end prematurely claimed lost walker threatened separate suit demanding riley hired indianapolis lawyer represent men settled court details settlement disclosed case riley finally old contracts free agent riley sued reinforced public opinion riley partners helped maintain image riley remained good friends riley later wrote pond walker source problems riley poetry popular britain large book old fashioned roses traveled england tour considered literary pilgrimage landed liverpool traveled scotland home burial place riley long compared burns critics dialect poetry drew inspiration rural homes traveled edinburgh york london reciting poetry gatherings stop arranged poetry reading prominent british actors london riley warmly welcomed literary theatrical community toured places shakespeare frequented riley quickly tired traveling abroad began longing home writing nephew regretted having left united_states curtailed journey returned new_york_city august spent months home attempting write epic poem attempts gave believing possess ability riley authored famous poems poems write 1890s generally received public solution riley publishers began poetry books printing earliest works published critic working chicago_tribune pointed use riley earliest works commenting riley popularity push crude earlier works public money riley newest poems published book received negative reviews referred poems like little dog riley worn genius growing number critics suggested ignored quality poems sake making money tours riley wealthy books able triple annual income touring found lure hard resist decided return lecture circuit hired assist managing affairs handled finances glass worked organize lecture tours glass worked closely riley publishers tours coincide release new books ensured tours geographically varied maintain popularity regions nation careful book busy schedules riley performed times week tours short lasting months tour riley western united_states tour east performances major events generally sold days announcements allowed author join tour millionaire published books literary community dismissed work riley instrumental helping accepted riley tour making stops major cities united_states advertised final performances incredible demand tickets riley performed largest audiences tour continued similar riley lamented lack change program found tried introduce new material left popular poems crowds demand agreed favorites children poet following death father riley began choice marry children compensate lack children uncle gifts childhood home allowed divorced sister mary widowed sister law julia daughters live home provided needs spent summer months living took nephew personal secretary gave wedding gift riley loved family riley returned live near indianapolis later boarding private home district small suburb developed close friendship families home destination local riley regularly poetry tell stories riley friends frequently visited home developed closer relationship year began compiling poems interest children new book entitled rhymes childhood book richly illustrated riley authored new poems book pseudonym rhymes childhood riley best selling book sold millions copies remained print continually helped earn riley nickname children poet riley rival commented book charming lost youth later life national poet riley wealthy time ended touring earning week retired continued minor appearances riley performed shows denver performances later life civic celebrations regular speaker decoration day events delivered poetry unveiling monuments washington began referring national poet poet america people poet riley wrote patriotic poems events including soldier old glory famous poem america poem america nations written read riley dedication sailors monument new poetry riley published end century famous friends poetic qualities poems poor contained popular sentiments concerning deceased poor quality poems friends publishers requested stop writing refused riley publishers suggested create multi volume series books containing complete life works help nephew riley began working books eventually totaled sixteen volumes finally completed works uncommon lives writers uncommon popularity riley achieved works staples ivy league literature courses universities began offering honorary degrees yale followed granted similar awards elected member letters conferred special medal poetry riley influential helping poets start careers having particularly strong influences discovered aspiring african american poet riley thought work worthy applause wrote letters recommendation help work published declining health riley doctor diagnosed nervous disorder recommended long periods rest cure riley remained ill rest life relied family aid care winter months moved miami florida summer spent time family trips decade including mexico depressed condition writing friends thought die moment alcohol relief march riley stricken second time bell partial symptoms gradually eased course year riley difficult patient generally refused medicine patent sold earlier years worsened conditions doctors sway opinion july suffered stroke paralyzed right body hoping quick recovery family kept news press september riley found loss use writing hand worst stroke served health poor decided work legacy remembered indianapolis donated land funds build new library pennsylvania avenue aid cane riley began recover ability walk inability write nearly ended production poems worked write poems short autobiographical sketches riley dictated publisher continued recycling old works new books remained high demand riley nation read poet trend accelerated turn century riley recorded readings popular poetry sold riley subject paintings commissioned portrait riley created world famous painter riley image nationally known icon businesses capitalized popularity sell products brand vegetables major trade midwest governor indiana instituted riley day poet birthday schools required teach riley poems children banquet events held honor state celebration national proclaimed states annual celebration continued indiana early riley filmed movie celebrate indiana centennial video display death legacy july riley suffered second stroke recovered day speak joke companions died dawn morning july riley death shocked nation page headlines major newspapers president wrote brief note riley family offering behalf entire nation indiana governor offered allow riley lie state person previously received honor hours lay state july thirty thousand people filed past bronze line miles long end day thousands turned away day private funeral ceremony held attended dignitaries large funeral procession carried crown hill cemetery buried tomb hill highest point city indianapolis year riley death memorials created including james riley memorial association james riley hospital children created named honor group wealthy opened following years memorials intended benefit children created including camp riley youth disabilities memorial foundation purchased poet home indianapolis maintained museum james riley museum home late victorian home indiana open public late victorian preservation featuring authentic furniture era birthplace home james preserved historical site liberty ship commissioned april christened served scrapped opened indiana james riley elementary school hammond indiana torn indiana time neighboring indiana anderson indiana indiana elementary schools named riley road located converted listed national_register_of_historic_places issued cent stamp honoring riley lasting tribute citizens hold festival year riley honor taking place second weekend october riley days festival traditionally flower parade local school children place flowers statue riley county courthouse lawn band plays lively music honor poet weeks festival festival board queen contest queen going years honor poet according historian riley instrumental helping form cultural identity united_states significant literary community 1880s works notably riley wallace helped create midwest cultural identity create rival literary community established eastern reason publicity riley work created commonly known poet critical reception style riley popular writers late nineteenth early twentieth century known sentimental humorous writing writing verses dialect poetry caused readers recall nostalgic simpler time earlier american history gave poetry unique appeal period rapid united_states riley prolific writer achieved mass appeal partly sense marketing publicity published books poetry humorous short stories sold millions copies riley remembered famous poems including man little annie poems including partially autobiographical events people childhood inspiration subject matter poems contained morals warnings children containing messages telling children care fortunate society messages riley subtle response turbulent economic times growing progressive movement riley believed robbed children innocence sincerity poems attempted introduce characters lost qualities children poems display riley penchant humorous characterization repetition dialect poetry accessible wide ranging audience hinted indirectly poems riley wrote little subject matter actually mocked attempts poetry sentimental poems concerned subjects little christmas tree absence little happy little poverty death child disabilities like children poems contained morals suggesting society pity charitable riley wrote gentle romantic poems dialect generally consisted strongly influenced works alfred lord standard english poetry popular dialect poems popular poems riley authored later years commemorate important events american history dead riley contemporaries acclaimed america best loved poet lauded works riley natural unaffected discontent deep thought song praised riley work expressed poetry critics period found fault riley works criticized riley frequent use dialect accused riley dialect cover faulty construction poems found riley work superficial claiming lacked irony narrow emotional range 1930s popular critical opinion riley works began shift favor negative reviews said riley works wrote modern critics consider riley minor poet work provincial sentimental superficial struck chord mass audience time enormous cultural change wrote interests modern critics riley ability market work saying unique understanding image nostalgic dreams anxious nation earliest widespread criticisms riley opinions dialect writing actually represent true dialect central indiana wrote riley dialect similar poor speech child dialect region extensive comparison historical texts riley dialect usage wrote critics dismissed sub literary artificial entertainer defenders reply author popular millions people different walks life contribute value faults ignored
James Whitcomb Riley