Elliott Co., Ky birth records list Riley M. Bowling, born 24 Apr 1875, father James Bowling, mother’s maiden name Susannah Evens.

His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Riley Bowling, age 42, residence Bigstone, Elliott Co., Ky, farmer, self-employed, nearest relative Ida Bowling.

The Kentucky death index lists Riley Bowling, age 84, died 22 June 1958 in Fayette Co., residence Rowan Co.

His gravestone has his birth date as 24 Apr 1874.

In 1900 he was listed in Peach Orchard, Ford Co., Illinois, as Riley Bowling, age 25, born Apr 1875, Ky Ky Ky, single, servant, farm laborer, with the family of John W. Holmes, age 45, b. Apr 1855 Illinois England England, and his wife Sue age 36, b. Apr 1864 California Canada Illinois. (I mention the birthplaces of his employers only to show that they are no relation.) Also in the same househild is fellow Elliott Co. native Charles L. Dehart, son of Thomas M. Dehart and Malinda Pennington. Riley and Charles would later both marry Conn girls.

Her reported birth date varies widely. She was recorded in the 1900 census as age 16 born June 1884, in the 1910 census as age 29, and in the 1930 census as age 42.

Her gravestone, a double one with Riley, has her dates as 11 July 1883 to 28 Aug 1966. I cannot find her in the Kentucky death records nor the SSDI, not even searching for any Ida who died on that date (in case she remarried.) She probably died out of state while living with one of her children, perhaps in Indiana.

There is a younger Ida Bowling, born 29 Aug 1888, died 19 Dec 1973 in Maysville, Mason Co., Ky, but it would not be the same one since the death dates are so different.

1910 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Martinsburg precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 4A as family #53/55:
Bowling, Riley, 38, b. Ky Va Ky, farmer; Ida, wife, 29, b. Ky Ky Ky, married 8 years, mother of 4 children, 4 living; Cecil, son, 6; Roscoe, son, 5; Noah, son, 3; Samuel, son, 1 3/12. All children born Ky Ky Ky.

Two households above is the family of Riley’s brother George, who is also married to a wife named Ida, age 17 (newlyweds, his second marriage, her first.)

1920 census of Elliott Co., Ky, enumerated 21 Jan, lists on p. 6A as family #97:
Bowling, Riley, 43, farmer, b. Ky Va Ky; Ida, wife, 33; Cecil, son, 16; Roscoe, son, 15; Noah, son, 14; Ora, son, 12; Clinton, son, 7; Vess, son, 5; Blanc, dau, 1. All except Riley born Ky Ky Ky.

1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Farmers precinct, enumerated 4 April, lists on p. 6A as family # 3:
Bowling, Riley, 54, age at first marriage 26; Ida, wife, 42, age at first marriage 15; Festus, son, 15; Blanche, dau, 11. All born Ky Ky Ky.

The preceding household is headed by Ida’s parents, and the one before that is headed by her brother Charlie.