J. F. Riegel, farmer and carpenter, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, Dec. 30, 1846. His parents, John and Sarah Riegel, nee Raposs, were also natives of the Keystone State, and early settlers of Michigan. J. F. was educated in his native State and in 1862 he enlisted in the Fifty-first Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, Company F., under command of Captain Jacob P. Brooks. He participated in twenty-nine severe engagements, among them the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Stone River, second battle of Bull Run, Wilderness, Richmond and many others. He was twice wounded and was knocked down by a spent case shot at Ft. Steadman. His company at one time numbered 111 members, and after four battles only eight were left that were fit for duty. He came to Iowa in 1876 and has engaged in carpentering since--building most of the housed in Osterdock. He now lives on section 11, where he owns forty acres. In 1878 he married Martha, daugher of Christian Lang, a native of Germany; he came to the United States in 1848, and located in Indiana; he now lives in Mallory Township, Ia. Martha was born in Indiana on April 7, 1855. By this union there are two children--William Arthur, born Nov. 17, 1878; Florence May, born June 10, 1880. Mrs. Riegel is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Riegel votes the Republican ticket. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 924-925 |