Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Risse, Hon. John B. September 28, 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com December 21, 2009, 5:34 pm Source: McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois Author: Unknown HON. JOHN B. RISSE is a prominent at- torney, and ex-County Judge of Hancock County. This locality has been the scene of his entire professional career, and on life's stage he has played well his part. For seventeen years he served as County Judge, and his long continuance in office well indicates his fidelity to duty and the high commendation which he re- ed veil from his fellow-townsmen. In the ranks of the legal profession, he occupies a foremost place, and as one of its most prominent representa- tives we gladly place his history in this volume. Judge Risse was born on the 28th of October, 1835, in Dorsten, West Prussia, Germany, and was the third in a family of four children, num- bering three sons and a daughter. The two brothers of our subject, however, died in infancy. The sister, Frances, is now the wife of James Og- den, a prosperous farmer residing in Hancock County. The parents, Laurenz and Wilhelmina (Punzmann) Risse, were both natives of Ger- many. The father was born in Dorsten, and be- came a shoe-maker by trade. In 1844, he crossed the Atlantic to America in company with his family, and located at Galena, Ill., where he re- mained until 1847. In that year he removed to Nauvoo, where he embarked in business as a shoe-dealer. He continued in that business until his death and met with a fair degree of success in his undertakings. In 1870, he was called to the home beyond, having reached the allotted age of three-score and ten years. His wife, who was in Cologne, survived him for a number of years and departed this life in 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The Judge spent the first eight years of his life in the land of his birth, and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. The days of his youth were spent in his father's home. In the public schools of the neighbor- hood he acquired a good English education. He began reading in a law office in Nauvoo, and af- ter thorough and diligent preparation passed an examination and was admitted to the Bar in 1856. Mr. Risse at once began practice in Nauvoo, and there remained until December, 1869, when he was elected County Judge of Han- cock County, and removed to Carthage. For seventeen years he continued to fill that position with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. At length, on his retirement from public life, he opened a law office, and has since devoted his energies to private practice. On the 16th of April, 1861, Judge Risse was united in marriage with Miss Ursula Reimbold, who was born in Cologne, Germany, a most es- timable lady, who has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate. They have be- come the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. The eldest, William B., is now an attorney-at-law, associated with his father; Minnie is the wife of John J. Rheinberger, a wine grower of Nauvoo; Christina is the wife of Au- gust J. Beger, who is engaged in the drug busi- ness in Nauvoo; Henry C. is engaged in merchan- dising in Parsons, Kan.; and the two youngest members of the family, Edward J. and Ferdinand L., are still with their parents. The family is one of prominence in the community, and its mem- bers are widely and favorably known. In his political views, Judge Risse is a Demo- crat, who warmly advocates the principles of his party and always supports by his ballot its men and measures. He is recognized as one of the leaders of Democracy in Hancock County, and does all in his power to promote his party's interests and insure its success. He and his fam- ily are members of the Catholic Church, and con- tribute liberally to its support. He is now en- joying an extensive law practice and is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of this part of the State. His record on the bench is one of which he may well be proud. In his rulings he was ever just, unbiased by fear or favor, and the high opinion in which he was held by all the voters of the county is indicated by his frequent re-election. He is a man of deep research, of studious and thoughtful habits, and by earnest application he has won the prominent place which he now oc- cupies. Since his twelfth year Judge Risse has resided in Hancock County and has a large cir- cle of warm friends. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/hancock/photos/bios/risse1575gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/hancock/bios/risse1575gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb