James Whitcomb Riley - Love-Lyrics & Songs Of Home: "Think of him still as the same, I say. He is not dead-he is just away."

The life of James Whitcomb Riley, known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet," is marked by a blend of creative talent and personal struggles. Born into a well-off family in Indiana, his early education was inconsistent, yet he thrived in a creative environment. After a challenging start in various jobs, he gained fame through his dialect poems, leading to successful speaking engagements. Despite battling alcoholism and declining popularity, he managed to secure financial stability. Riley's later years were spent writing patriotic poetry until his death in 1916, receiving a remarkable public tribute.