John Riegel, one of the old and substantial farmers of Jackson township, Montgomery county, Ohio, and a resident of the county since six years of age, was born in Berks county, Pa., July 12, 1826, of German ancestors.
John Riegel, his grandfather, also a native of Berks county, was there married and had born to him the following children: Samuel, Adam, Jonas, Joseph, Susan, Rebecca, Hannah, David, Lydia, Polly and Sallie. John Riegel came to Ohio in 1832 and settled in Perry township on 160 acres of land that had been cleared only in small part, and here he built a log house and in course of time cleared all his land and made a comfortable home.
David Riegel, son of John, the pioneer and the father of subject, was also born in Berks county, Pa., and there married Elizabeth Koucker. He followed farming and milling until 1832 in his native county, and then came to Ohio, lived for a short time in Germantown, Montgomery county, and then bought a tract of 160 acres in Perry township, all in the woods, but which he subsequently converted into a fertile and profitable farm. He also purchased an additional tract of 301 acres, and became one of the most respected and solid men of the township. The children born to David Riegel and wife were named Mary (who died at the age of thirteen years), John, Leah, Franklin J. and Harry. The parents were long members of the United Brethren church, and contributed largely toward the erection of the house of worship belonging to that denomination in Perry township. In politics Mr. Riegel was a democrat, but never sought public office.
John Riegel, the subject of this memoir grew to manhood on his fathers farm. February 15, 1849, he married, in Jackson township, Miss Rebecca Leis, who was born in Berks county, Pa., June 9, 1832, a daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Fidler) Leis.
Peter Leis, grandfather of Mrs. Riegel, was of German descent and came from Berks county, Pa., to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1831 or 1832, bought a farm of 160 acres and lived to an advanced age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Kalbough, bore him nine children, viz: Henry, John, Adam, Polly, Peggy, Sallie, Katie, Leah and Hannah. The family were all devoted members of the Reformed church.
Henry Leis, father of Mrs. Riegel and also a native of Berks county, Pa., came to Ohio when his father came, brought his family with him, settled on 160 acres of land near Slyfers church in Jackson township, Montgomery county, and cleared up al excellent farm. His children were named Israel, Peter, John, Adam (who died at the age of twenty years), Henry (who died at thirteen years) and Rebecca. This family also were members of the Reformed church, and in politics Mr. Leis was a democrat. He lived to be about seventy-five years of age and died a well-to-do farmer and an honored citizen.
John Riegel, the subject of this memoir, at his marriage, settled on his present farm, which he bought from his father, and which comprised 177 acres, all in the woods with the exception of about fifteen acres. Through persevering industry he cleared up the entire tract, improved it with substantial buildings and all the accessories proper to the success of husbandry, and has now as fine a farm as there is in the township of Jackson. To his marriage there have been born eight children, in the following order: David, William H., John A., Franklin, Mary A., Amanda, Emma K. and Rebecca E. The parents are members of the United Brethren church, and in this faith have reared their family. They freely contribute of their means toward the support of their denomination, and Mr. Riegel was largely instrumental in causing the erection of the Johnsville church edifice, to the construction of which he also freely contributed. In politics, Mr. Riegel is a democrat. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Riegel, David is a farmer of Jackson township, married Belle Fulse, and has five children; William, also of Jackson township, married Mary A. Minderman, and has four children; John A., living on the home farm, married Lucy Dechant, and has eight children; Franklin, farmer of Jackson township, married Mary Sheppard, and has two children; Mary A., is married to Peter Leis, and has two children; Amanda (deceased) was married to Benjamin Comar (deceased), and had five children; Emma K., married to Theodore Dechant, has one child, and Rebecca E. is married to Oliver Patterson and has four children. Mr. and Mrs. Riegel, now nearly half a century married, have had eight children, have thirty-one grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They have resided for forty-seven years on their present homestead and have so lived as to have been able to confer many benefits upon the community and in turn to win the respect and esteem of the residents of the country all around them.
Source: Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens Together with the Biographies and Portraits of the Presidents of the United States and Biographies of the Governors of Ohio, ed. by Frank Conover, A.W. Bowen & Co., 1897, pp. 1242-1243.