Introducing ... master quilter Katherine Walter Riley

Zann Miner
Published: March 5, 2008

The search for "Sam" has finally come to an end. The clues are all in and the investigation has been thorough, including the input of several of "Sam's" friends and family members. It was previously revealed that according to her birth certificate, "Sam" was born "Mary Catherine" in Oct. 1913 to J. and Mary V. Goff Walter.

I am pleased to now introduce to you, Katherine (she chose to spell her name with a K) Walter Riley.

Katherine is a beautiful and accomplished woman of 94 years and has been most gracious to me with all my questions.

Join me as Katherine and I share with you a very brief snapshot of her life.

Katherine enjoys telling that she was born in Korea, despite the Rappahannock County notation on her birth records. The Walter's family lived in the Amissville area of Rappahannock but as Katherine stated, "My mother always went home to have her babies." Home was where Mary Virginia Goff spent her childhood and where her parents continued to reside on Perry's Mountain in Korea, Va., just across the county line.

It is difficult to fathom the changes Katherine Riley has experienced in her lifetime. She remembers hearing discussions about Woodrow Wilson, WWI and the tragedy of the racially-based Allie Thompson murder that occurred in Culpeper County in 1918.

Once assured that mother and child were healthy, Katherine was brought home to Hinson's Ford Road where she has spent her entire life.

Descended from the deeply rooted families of Utz, Amiss (namesake of the village of Amissville), Walter and Goff, Katherine recites stories learned from her grandparents of the soldiers that marched by the thousands passed their farms. "My grandfather Walter told of standing on the fence by the road and being asked by Gen. Stonewall Jackson for water."

On a bit less glamorous note, she also remembers the family hiding things from the Yankees, "They dug a hole under the front porch and hid the meat so the Yankees wouldn't take it, so my grandmother said."

Leslie, as her father was called, and Virginia Walter had seven children, four boys and three girls; Katherine was the second child and oldest daughter. She and her brother Leland are the only surviving siblings.

Walking the mile to grade school at the early age of 5, Katherine continued her education and completed high school in Washington, Va. in the late 1920s. Recalling the less-than-pleasant 10-12 mile ride to school Katherine describes the method of transportation, "It was an old truck with a bed on the back. We sat on benches and were protected from the weather with oilcloth curtains; it was freezing in the winter."

No stranger to what might be considered today as deprivation; Katherine emanates a spirit of strength and fortitude. Until the late 1930s, the houses were lit with coal lamps and a wood stove was the sole source of heat. Water was hauled from a nearby spring. It was just the way of life for most residents of the rural area.

Once the effects of the Great Depression began to fade, Katherine and "Sam" Stanish Riley were married. But times remained difficult, "You couldn't buy a job," Katherine said. Sam found work as a carpenter and Katherine as a seamstress, a skill she has refined to perfection.

Between private commissions and decades or work for Early's in Amissville, Katherine has sewn dozens of wedding dresses and more than 5,000 drapes. "I remember making cotton dresses for 50 cents a piece and once a wedding gown and all the attendants' dresses for a total of $25."

Sewing was Katherine's vocation but quilt making has been her life's calling. She is considered a master quilter and has created more than 54 exquisite and award winning quilts; as we spoke she was working on number 55.

Katherine and Sam had no children of their own, but she continues to nurture the lives of numerous nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.

Thank you, Katherine Walter Riley, for allowing us to share a small bit of your life. May you enjoy many more birthdays.
Until next week.

Zann Miner, former
director of the Museum of Culpeper History, can be reached at or write Zann Miner c/o the Culpeper Star Exponent 471 James Madison Hwy. Suite 201 Culpeper, VA 22701.

More about Katherine
Zann Miner asked for answers to her questions about Katherine Riley and the readers delivered. Go to StarExponent.com to read letters sent in by a pair of readers telling their
memories of this amazing woman from Korea, Va.

Dear Zann Miner

First I would just like to say I really enjoy your articles in the CSE.  Second, I believe I know the lady in your quiz-Katherine Walter Riley.  I always saw her name spelled with a K.  I remember because I spell mine with a C.  She taught me in Sunday school at Amissville Baptist Church.  She was a substitute school teacher when I attended Amissville Elementary School.  She taught me to sew in 4-H Club at that school.  Much more recently, she instructed at the quilting class in Washington which I attended.

There had been a high school in Amissville but had been discontinued by the time my mother Evie Kemper Carter and Katherine Walter got ready for high school. My mother had been sick a lot so her parents refused to let her travel to high school in Washington; now I know why-the mode of transportation.

I know this lady as Katherine Walter Riley — widow of Stanish Riley (known as Sam); a good carpenter, as was his father and grandfather.  They lived on 211 until it was four-laned and wiped out half of Amissville.  She is a beautiful person, wonderful seamstress and quilter.  I respect her with much love and honor.

She is still living and quilting.

Catherine Carter Paul                                               Amissville

Dear Zann,

Thank you for including your address for those who do not use E-mail.

"Sam" is Katherine Riley of Amissville, Virginia.  Although her birth certificate shows her name as Mary Catherine Walter, she always signed her name as Katherine (always with K).

Katherine Riley celebrated her 94th birthday October 18, 2007.  She was born on Perry's Mountain in Korea, Va.  She is the oldest in the family.  Her youngest brother is Leland Walter who lives in Culpeper.  He is the youngest child in the family.  All the brothers and sisters in the family between Katherine and Leland have passed away.  Katherine always said one of her hips was higher than the other because she always had a baby on her hip.

Katherine Riley is a descendant of the Amiss family.  When it became necessary to establish a post office in the area, a name had to be selected.  The Amiss and Bayse families were large so a vote was taken between the family members.  The Amiss family won by one vote I have heard.  The area was named Amissville and the first postmaster was an Amiss.

Katherine Riley is the oldest member of the Amissville Baptist church in age and membership.  Katherine Riley joined the church by Baptism August 1928.  Katherine Riley taught Sunday school and prepared Communion for many years.  She made her own Grape juice.  She made many costumes for Christmas programs, some of which are still being used.

Katherine Riley was married to "Sam" Standish Riley who passed away a number of years ago.  Both families were all natives of Amissville.  Katherine and Sam did not have any children of their own.  Katherine's niece Jacqueline lived with them for sometime.  Jacqueline married and became the mother of two children before her untimely death due to cancer.

Before there was electricity in the Amissville area, Amissville Baptist Church had a Delco system for lighting.  Katherine said she was baptized at night and to this day, she is still afraid of water.

Katherine can be depended on to supply names and stories when you have a need for information on local families.  She is willing to share information for those doing genealogy.  Katherine is fondly remembered by all who have been blessed by her acts of kindness in their time of need.

Katherine Walter Riley attended school at Amissville Public School which at one time went through high school.  Katherine is a Master Quilter.  She is now teaching her care givers to quilt.  She was a member of Extension Homemaker's Clubs for a total of 75 years.

Mary S. Priest                                                         Amissville