RISELING, Phillip V. - 1914

RISELING, WOLF, SIMMONS, SPERRY, GALE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/10/2009 at 04:27:12

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

PHILLIP V. RISELING.

Phillip V. Riseling, carrying on general agricultural pursuits on section 14, Willow township, is one of the selfmade men of his section of the county. He started out in life empty-handed, working as a farm hand and afterward renting land until he was able to purchase a farm. Pennsylvania numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in that state on the 25th of October, 1861, his parents being Valentine and Julian (Wolf) Riseling, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father was a farmer by occupation, owning and cultivating two hundred acres of land. He was also proprietor of a woolen mill which was located on the farm and he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods until his lifes labors were ended in death. He was always a successful business man and he traveled to some extent, selling the output of the mill. His judgment was sound, his enterprise unfaltering and the business methods which he followed brought him substantial return. He died in 1900, having for ten years survived his wife, who passed away in August, 1890.

Phillip V. Riseling was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and remained with his parents until twentyone years of age, when he went to Ohio, there living for two years. In 1884, he came to Cherokee county and sought employment as a farm hand, working for Jonah Clark for three years. He then rented a farm, which he continued to cultivate for two years, after which he removed to Silver township, where he rented land for three years. On the expiration of that period he came to Willow township and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 14. He took up his abode upon his present place and at once began the task of transforming it into a productive and fruitful farm. There was nothing on the place when it came into his possession save a few rods of fencing. He has made all of the improvements and today has a good property supplied with modern equipments and the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. An air of neatness and thrift pervades the place, and he annually gathers good harvests, for which he finds a ready sale.

On the 22d of December, 1887, Mr. Riseling was united in marriage to Miss Donzella Simmons, whose birthplace was a little log cabin in Pilot township that is still standing. Her natal day was September 13, 1868, and her parents were Dr. Davis S. and Mary (Sperry) Simmons, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father came to Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1868 and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Silver township. This he at once began to develop and improve, continuing its cultivation until 1887, when he removed to Quimby, where he engaged in the hotel and livery business, erecting the first livery barn in Quimby. This he conducted for two or three years. He was also a veterinary surgeon and devoted a good deal of his time to the profession. In February, 1906, he was appointed sheriff of the county and filled that office until his death, which occurred in May of the same year. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who died on the 5th of March, 1893. Mr. Simmons was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Fortyfirst Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years, valiantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Riseling have been born five children: William W., twentythree years of age; Sylvia D., the wife of George E. Gale, a resident of Quimby; Hazel J., twenty years of age; Loy K., aged seventeen' and Lovell, who died in March, 1908.

Mr. Riseling is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his connection being with the lodge at Quimby. His political support is given to the republican party, and, while he does not seek nor desire office, he keeps well informed on the questions of the day and is thus able to support his position by intelligent argument. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, and to its teachings he is most loyal.