james whitcomb riley was born on october 7, 1849, in the town of greenfield, indiana, the third of the six children of reuben andrew and elizabeth marine riley. riley's father was an attorney, and in the year before his birth, he was elected a member of the indiana house of representatives as a democrat. he developed a friendship with james whitcomb, the governor of indiana, after whom he named his son. martin riley, riley's uncle, was an amateur poet who occasionally wrote verses for local newspapers. riley was fond of his uncle who influenced his interest in poetry.