1914 Biography - William B. Reily

Reily, William B., president of the Reily-Taylor Co., coffee importers and roasters, New Orleans, La., was born in East Feliciana parish, near Clinton, La., March 6, 1859; son of Samuel W. and Charlotte (Boatner) Reily, the former of whom was born in Wilkinson county, Miss., and in after life followed the avocation of a planter in Louisiana. The mother was born March 28, 1828, in Louisiana. The paternal grandparents, John Young and Mary (McNeely) Reily, were born in Sumpter county, S. C. The family name formerly was O'Reily, but the O and apostrophe have been dropped by the later branches of the family in America. The paternal great-great-grandfather, Samuel Warburton O'Reily, was born in 1768 and came to this country in 1787. He married Martha Nelson McDonald, of Edgefield, S. C., in the year 1794. The paternal great- grandfather was Samuel Reily. The father, Samuel W. Reily, settled in East Feliciana parish, La., where he later owned and operated a plantation. He died at Bastrop, Morehouse parish, in 1882. His wife, Charlotte Boatner, died in the year 1861. Her father, William Boatner, was born Nov. 1, 1788, in the state of South Carolina. His wife, Sarah (Jelks) Boatner, also was born in South Carolina, Nov., 1799, and died in 1891. They were married in March, 1819. Six children were born to Samuel W. and Charlotte (Boatner) Reily, namely: John Boatner, a planter, now living at Collinston, Morehouse parish, La.; William B., the subject of this sketch; Thomas G., now representing the Reily Taylor company at Greenville, S. C. The other 3 children are deceased. William B. Reily first attended a country school, and later was instructed by a private tutor at the parental home. When his education had been completed the young man began his business career as a clerk in a country store at Bastrop, La., in which capacity he continued about 8 years, then launching into business on his own account as proprietor of a retail grocery store. After 2 years as a retail grocer at Bastrop, he changed the field of his operations to Monroe, La., where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business as president of the Southern Grocery Co., incorporated, with D. W. Pipes, formerly of Clinton, La., as vice-president, and R. A. Shotwell, secretary. This enterprise prospered from its inception, and Mr. Reily continued as its executive head during 14 years. Jan. 1,. 1903, Mr. Reily removed to New Orleans and organized the Reily-Taylor company, coffee importers and roasters. The personnel of this corporation is William B. Reily, president; J. Aron, vice-president; J. B. Redmond, secretary. In addition to his mercantile and manufacturing interests, Mr. Reily owns large tracts of land in northern Louisiana, upon which cotton is grown as the staple crop. He is a member of the board of stewards of the Rayne Memorial Methodist church, New Orleans, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, his membership in this latter fraternity being at Monroe. June 30, 1886, Mr. Reily was married to Miss Estelle Weaks, a daughter of Capt. James C. and Nannie (Redrick) Weaks, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, but the family in America originates from South Carolina. Capt. Weaks was an attorney, farmer and merchant, and also a stanch member of the republican party. An ancestor of his family was among the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and was a cousin to John C. Calhoun. Capt. Weaks won the rank of colonel in the Confederate army, and after the war engaged in river traffic as captain of a steamer. Capt. and Mrs. Weaks now reside at Monroe, La. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. William B. Reily, these being: William B., Jr., a graduate of the Boys' high school and Tulane university, New Orleans, and now a stockholder and member of the board of directors in the Reily Taylor company; James Weaks, also a graduate of the Boys' high school and Tulane university, and a stockholder and director in the Reily-Taylor company, for which corporation he travels as a salesman; Ethel, a graduate of the Newcomb college of Tulane university; Charlotte Ann, now an art student of Newcomb college, Tulane university. Mr. Reily is essentially a citizen of the community in which he lived, and his activities are by no means confined to the immediate business of which he is the executive head. In other words, he is pronouncedly a public-spirited citizen, wide-awake, zealous, and loyal to the best interests of the masses of the people, always actively interested in public and local affairs, and readily cooperating in all really meritorious movements for the common welfare. During his 14 years of busy life at Monroe, La., he occupied many important positions there. He was president of the Monroe Telephone Co., member of the board of directors of the Ouachita cotton mills, member of the city council, president of the Monroe Board of Trade, and president of the Valley Merchandising Co.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 569-570.