Fred Riser

As printed in 1913

FRED RISER.

Upon the list of Allamakee county's honored pioneers appears the name of Fred Riser, whose residence in this section dates from 185 1 and whose active career has been closely identified with its growth and development. He has borne an honorable and worthy part in the work which has transformed the region from a wilderness into a populous and wealthy community and he is today one of the most prominent and popular men of Lansing township, where he is living retired. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, June 14, 1834, and is a son of John and Barbara (Orli) Riser, natives of that country, who emigrated to America about 1843 nd settled on one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Madison county, Illinois. In 185 1 they sold the farm and moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, after the father and his son John had made two trips to this state and to Minnesota looking for a suitable location. Having finally determined upon Lansing township John Riser purchased three hundred and twenty acres of school land, unimproved, and while he was engaged in building a stable upon i:iO PAST AND PRESENT Of ALLAMAKEE COUNTY this property he and his family lived in a rude shanty on the Andrew T. Sandry property. They made their home in the stable for some time after it was completed and then moved into a frame and log dwelling which they had erected and which still stands with the additions that have since been made. Both parents have passed away. the mother dying in Madison county. Illinois, and the father in Lansing township when he was seventy-nine years of age. lie was a member of the Reformed church in Switzerland and in America a devout adherent of the German Methodist Episcopal religion. In his family were five children besides the subject of this review:.Anna and Elizabeth, who passed away in Illinois; Christ, a retired farmer living in Lansing township; John, who passed away in 1907; and Peter, who died in 1902.

Fred Riser was nine years of age when he was brought to the Lnited States, his ninth birthday having been spent on the Atlantic ocean. The family landed in New York, July 4. 1843, after fifty-two dawson a sailing vessel, and from there they pushed onward to Madison county, Illinois, where the subject of this review remained until he was seventeen years of age and where he acquired such education as could be gained during a few months attendance at a country school. He came to Allamakee county with his father and assisted with the work of the homestead until after the latter's death, when the land was divided, Mr. Riser receiving as his share one hundred and sixty acres, including the buildings upon the farm. He made further improvements, erecting one of the largest barns in the township, and he steadily carried forward the work of development through the years, becoming one of the ]prosperous and substantial agriculturists of this vicinity and winning a competence sufficient to enable him to retire from active life. He sold his farm to his son Otto, with whom he continues to reside. Mr. Riser has been twice married. His first union occurred July 10, 1854, when he wedded Miss Barbara Marti, a native of Switzerland, who passed away in 1862, leaving five children; John, deceased, who was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; Kate, the wife of John Sharff, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Fred, a practicing physician residing near Denver, Colorado; Henry William, who formerly engaged in the practice of dentistry and who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Jacob, a dentist of Spokane, Washington. On the loth of March, 1864, Mr. Riser was again married, his second wife being Miss Eva Margaret Swartz, who has also passed away. She became the mother of thirteen children: (george, deceased; Wesley, who resides in California; Matilda, also deceased, who was married and had two children, Fred and Theodore Fisher, the latter of whom makes his home with his grandfather, the subject of this review; Edward, who has passed away; Lidia, the wife of.Albert Ross, of Washington; Julia, who married Fred Sharff and makes her home with her father; Otto, who recently jjurchased his father's farm; Ida, who married John Long, of Montana; Benjamin; Selma, the widow of John " (]; Gertrude, who married Philip Rogcnsack, of North La Crosse; Manda, who married Ben Feuerhelm. of Lansing township; and Adeline, who makes her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mr. Riser is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal church and helped in the erection of the church building. He was for many years in his early life a democrat in his political beliefs but of late has affiliated with the republican party. He was for some time a member of the board of school directors and served ably and efficiently for one term as township assessor. At the age of seventy-nine he enjoys remarkable health considering his life of hard and unremitting work and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime — a straightforward, honorable and progressive citizen, thoroughly alive to the best interests of the community he has aided so greatly in upbuilding.

As printed in Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.