John Riffey (b. 1843 or 1844 in VA - d. May 3, 1900 in Cross Co., AR) married Elizabeth. When he was 21, he joined the Arkansas Volunteers of the Confederate Army serving from 1864 to May 25,1865. He was paroled in Wittsburg, AR. He secured a Land Patent on 80 acres of land in Cross Co., AR on April 16, 1890.

The Bureau of Land Management lists a Land Patent for 80 acres to John Riffey in Cross Co., Arkansas on April 16,1890 . (Document Nr. : 5495, Misc. Document Nr. : 12384)

"My grandfather was Carl Riffey. His father was Samuel Riffey who came to Washington In from Johnson City TN. His father was John L. Riffey who was married to Elizabeth Harrison Riffey. I believe John L. was born in Va. I have just begun to research and am going by information given to me by my father, Terry Riffey. I am very interested in finding Riffeys further back in the family line. Some other places my grandfather used to spead of were; Blount City, Tn, Bristol, Tn, Gate City Tn, Big Stone Gap, Va and Shanendoah, Va. I hope this helps."

-Susan Riffey Chapman

"The only record that was available to the compilers, evidently, was a record of parole on which (John Riffey) stated that he was enlisted in Co H, 23rd Ark Inf at Jonesboro, AR - the date of enlistment was not stated.

"He was paroled 25 May 1865 at Wittsburg, AR and had the following personal description:
eyes - gray
hair - dark
complexion - dark
ht - 5' 8"
Born - VA"

-Edward Gerdes

"Some additional information about John Riffey. His widow, Elizabeth Riffey, filed a Confederate pension application from Cross County on August 9, 1907 (File #4220) based on her husband's service in Co. H, 23rd Arkansas Infantry in 1864-1865. She stated that he had died on May 3, 1900. There is a link at the bottom of Edward Gerdes' Civil War Page for ordering pension and service record information.

"Co. H, 23rd Arkansas Infantry, was a Clark County unit, but in the later stages of the war they recruited men from wherever they could. There are no muster rolls for the period in which John Riffey would have enlisted."

-Bryan Howerton