HISTORY OF KREIDER FAMILY
FROM THE PEN OF REV. J.G. FRANCIS
(Continued from Monday)
JACOB WHO DIED YOUNG
Jacob Kreider, Jr., was likely the oldest son and child of Jacob the Gelder, at the east end of the settlement.
He is named first in his father's will, he had died and guardians were appointed for the children. Jacob was born
Dec. 10, 1778, and died April 30, 1812. His wife, Catharine Smith, daughter of David, m. an Orth, was born in
1782, and died, the obscure lettering seems to be, May 7, 1833. She likely was Reformed, for they were buried in
the Tabor Reformed cemetery of Lebanon, likely became Reformed through the Orths, the Smiths being
Mennonites. His will and his real estate transactions, if he had any, are likely recorded at Harrisburg, inasmuch
as Lebanon did not become a county till the year after his death. From the date of his birth, 1778, he apparently
being the oldest child, we may make a guess at the date of his father's birth; we should say between 1750 and
1755, while the father's father Christian, was doubtless born between 1725 and 1730. We know nothing of the
occupation or residence of Jacob, Jr. His burial at Tabor Reformed suggests that his residence may have been
in the town of Lebanon, for his single daughter Rosanna who moved to Center county sold in 1850 property in
Lebanon borough. The bodies of Jacob, Jr., and his wife, along with others, were a few years ago removed to
the Mt. Lebanon cemetery. The guardians of Jacob's children were Peter Smith, Joseph Bomberger and John
Smith. The children were:
- Philip, went to Center county.
- Rosanna, went to Center county.
- Anna, went to Center county.
- Henry, of whom we have learned nothing, perhaps d. young.
- Elizabeth, b. July 25, 1812, after her father's death; d. Oct. 23, 1871.
PHILIP OF CENTER COUNTY
Philip Kreider, son of Jacob, Jr., likely joined the migration from Lebanon county to Center county along
about the third decade of the 19th century. If he was the oldest of the family which is likely, he must have been
born very soon after 1800. The impression is that he got his wife in Center county, but he had a daughter,
Elizabeth, that was buried in Tabor Reformed cemetery, whose body has also been removed to Mt. Lebanon
cemetery. Burial here suggests residence here at time of death. The body may have been brought from Center,
but this would hardly have been the case if the mother were from Center county. Philip is said to have been a
farmer, likely near Coburn, Center county. It would seem that he was well-to-do. He had the following children:
- ELIZABETH KREIDER, d. young, buried at Mt. Lebanon cemetery.
- PHILIP KREIDER, farmer, near Wolf's Store, Center county, had children:
- DR. JACOB KREIDER, resided in Bucyrus, Ohio; had 2 children.
- MALINDA KREIDER, m. George Stover, of Coburn, Center county; distiller, said to have been very
wealthy; children:
- MARY KREIDER, m. Daniel Weaver, farmer, miller and postmaster, later retired at Wolfe's Store; children:
These Kreiders settled in the extreme eastern part of Center county, while the Kreiders previously referred
to as going to Center county settled in the southwestern part of this large county, and across the northern
Huntingdon and northern Blair counties, perhaps 40 miles away.
Rosanna and Anna
These two Kreider sisters also went to Center county. Both remained single. Anna was a deaf mute. We
find in the records in the Court House in Lebanon that Rosanna Kreider, "single woman of Millheim, in the
county of Center," sold to one Abner W. Hartman, a property on the west side of Market street, Lebanon
borough, April 9, 1850. With the conveyance went the right to alley and pump, likely referring to the old pump
in the center of Market Square, now the broad part of Ninth on both sides of Cumberland. Rosanna is said to
have been quite wealthy and is still remembered by relatives in Lebanon who continue to visit in Center county.
ELIZABETH KREIDER RISSER
Elizabeth Kreider was certainly the youngest child of Jacob, Jr. Jacob died April 30, 1812, and Elizabeth was
born July 25, 1812. She married Christian Risser, born Jan. 7, 1809; d. April 9, 1876. He is said to have been
related to the Mennonite Rissers of Lancaster county. He was a farmer at Midway on the farm now owned by
Attorney Warren Light. Some of the descendants have an impression that this had been an old Kreider farm,
and that Christian Risser got it through his wife. This, however, is a mistake. It had been the property of
Christian Risser's father, John, who died intestate and by order of the court became invested in his oldest son
Christian, who on April 9, 1844, made assignment to John Smith, who sold it to another Smith. It later became
one of the numerous farms of the grandfather of the late Dr. Gloninger, and on his death was inherited by one of
his daughters, the mother of Attorney Warren G. Light. Christian Risser continued for many years to farm the
old homestead, till the death of Mr. Gloninger, when all the old tenants were ousted. One of the granddaughters
of Christian Risser tells us that her grandfather was carried out in an arm chair and died nine days later, aged 69
years, partly at least, of a broken heart. It was an old Risser homestead, not a Kreider. Elizabeth Kreider Risser
had it is thought 13 children, of whom only the 8 following lived:
- VERONICA RISSER, m. George Fessler, proprietor of a hotel in Pinegrove, later moved to Kansas, and d. in
Texas; 4 children:
- SUSAN RISSER, m. Joseph Snavely, farmer at Midway, just across the railroad from the Risser homestead,
lived in an old log house now torn down; she, Reformed; he, Lutheran; 5 children:
- Elias Snavely, dec., carpenter, on Schaefferstown road, now Pershing avenue; widow now on
southwest corner of Ninth and Cumberland streets; Lutheran; 1 child: Virgie.
- Cyrus Snavely, carpenter, 336 Pershing avenue; Lutheran; 4 children, of whom only James is living.
- Lizzie Snavely, d. single.
- Joseph Snavely, m. Susan Evans; millman, 446 Pershing avenue; 5 children: Sallie; Jennie, m.; Florence,
m.; Irene and Hilda.
- PHILIP RISSER, m. Amanda Fortna; farmer near Midway, d. at Bismark, now Quentin; Reformed; 3 children:
- Franklin Christian Risser, b. Oct. 3, 1861, dec.; m. Matilda Horst, farmer at Yeagleystown, also teamster
for Freeman; 1 child: Irvin, in the West, likely in Illinois.
- John Fortna Risser, b. May 29, 1864; furnaceman, 607 Walnut St., Lebanon; 1 child: Daisy.
- David Light Risser, b. Oct. 30, 1867; formerly coal merchant at Midway; now resides at 713 Walnut
street, being foreman in city sewerage construction; 1 child: Roy H.
- ROSANNA RISSER, d. single.
- JOHN H. RISSER, dec., m. Hannah Geesaman, dec.; grocer at Tenth and Walnut streets, Lebanon;
Reformed; 8 children:
- Lizzie Risser, m. Benjamin Beicher, grocer at Tenth and Walnut streets; 2 children: George and May.
- Mary Risser, m. Frank Z. Miller, bookkeeper at Shenk's; residence 213 South Tenth street; 2 children:
Esther Elizabeth; student at Lebanon Valley College; and John Franklin.
- Hannah C. Risser, single; clerk at Shenk's resides with sister Mary.
- Veronica Risser, single, clerk in Williamsport, Pa.
- Kate Risser, single, clerk in Biecher's store.
- Laura Risser, m. Rev. Frank S. Bromer, Reformed minister in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 2 children: Dorothy
and J[???].
- Bertha Risser, dietitian in Germantown High School.
- Jane Risser, teacher, in Cedar Rapids.
- Adam Risser, d. aged 10 months.
- John Henry Risser, d. in infancy.
- CHRISTIAN RISSER, JR., m. Catharine Long; farmer on the Gloninger farm near the Fair Grounds, d. on the
Howard Shirk farm; she d. at Pleasant Hill; he, Reformed; she, Lutheran; 9 children:
- Alice Risser, single, seamstress at Pleasant Hill.
- Rosanna Risser, m. David Boyer, farmer till recently immediately west of Fontana, now resides at
Riegert's school house and is repairsman on the trolley line; 5 children: Katie; m. Clayton Ensminger;
Irene, m. Walter Heisey; Rosanna, m. George Miller; Elsie and David.
- Catharine Risser, m. recently to Harry Achey of Forneydale, of the Acheys of Achey Corner, now
Reistville, engineer at coke plant; he has children by a former wife.
- Daniel Risser, m. Lizzie Ann Clendenine, carpenter at Pleasant Hill; 1 child: Maude.
- Fannie Risser, m. Charles Himmelberger, formerly cigarmaker, now furnaceman; 434 North Twelfth
street; 2 children: Catharine and Lloyd.
- Maggie Risser, m. Ross Stein, conductor on trolley car; residence, Pleasant Hill; 6 children living:
Aaron, Viola, Dorothy, George, Christine and Clarence.
- John Risser, m. Margaret Freimeyer; formerly cigarmaker, now railroader; residence 327 Doe avenue,
Lebanon; 1 child: Eloise Catharine.
- Sadie Risser, m. Paul Weigley, machinist; 1215 Forge St., Lebanon; 6 children: Pauline, Elizabeth, and 4
deceased.
- George Risser, m. Lucy Weigley, sister of Paul; recently returned from army service in France; gas pipe
fitter; residence, 1218 Forge street; no children.
- ELIZABETH RISSER, b. April 22, 1846; d. Jan. 25, 1893; buried in Mt. Lebanon cemetery: m. Henry Dohner,
dec., a widower, laborer near Midway; she, no children.
- CATHARINE RISSER, b. Feb. 2, 1852; d. Aug. 22, 1896; buried in Mt. Lebanon cemetery; single.