Wm's first wife was Jane Nelson by whom there were 5 children. She is thought to have died and he remarried to MARY BELCH in Gibson County in 1858. Family is on 1860 census in Gibson CO. Next thing, Mary has remarried to a James Tarpley in 1868 and is in Crockett County. She is caring for the youngest child from William's first marriage. That suggests he died otherwise why would she take repsonsibilitiy for a child from a previous marriage? Time frame is suitable to Civil War and possible casualty. I found a W R Stubblefield in the 12th Regiment Kentucky Cavalry, CSA, Co F, and since that was made up of men from West TN and Kentucky thought possibly is "my" William. Want to prove or disprove that likelihood.
Wm Riley is one of 8 siblings and this is the closest to learning anything about him I've come in almost 3 years. The family was found earliest in Jackson CO, AL on 1830 and 1840 census; migrated to Wilson County where a handful of kids married; and then over to Gibson County by 1850. All moved on to California and Illinois and have pretty well been traced. Only Wm did not go with them.