BIO: Martin Luther RISHEL, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ MARTIN LUTHER RISHEL. About the year 1800 there came to Centre county, as a pioneer settler, Henry Rishel, a young man of German descent and probably of German birth. He settled in Green Grove, near the present site of Penn Hall, Gregg township (then Haines township), purchasing 130 acres of land where he and his wife Maria Hull, made their home until about 1824, when they moved to a farm of 100 acres in the same township, near Farmers Mills. Henry Rishel was fairly educated, and was successful as an agriculturist and prominent as a citizen. He died July 25, 1847, of apoplexy, and his remains were interred in the Union cemetery near Farmers Mills. His son, Col. John Rishel, the father of the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, was born near Penn Hall, December 26, 1808, and attended the schools of that place until the age of sixteen, when the family removed to the present homestead near Farmers Mills. His education was good for the time, and his excellent judgment and practical knowledge of affairs gave him much influence in the community. His title was gained by long service as colonel of a Regiment in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was a heavy-set man, weighing about 200 pounds, and had a full round face. Like his father, he followed farming as an occupation, occupying the homestead until his death, which occurred June 8, 1878. He never accumulated a fortune, but he added sixty-one acres to the original one hundred, and built an elegant residence which is still used by his heirs. His liberality and public spirit were shown in many ways, and for years he was a leading worker in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Farmers Mills, holding all the various offices at differenttimes. In 1872 he was sent by the Central Pennsylvania Conference as a delegate to the Lutheran Synod at Fort Wayne, Ind. When the building of St. John's Church near his home was proposed, he gave the movement his hearty support, donating all the ground necessary, and many other Churches were assisted by him. In local politics his influence was marked, and throughout his career he was one of the chief supporters of the Democratic party in his section, holding numerous offices. He served as county commissioner for two terms, from 1849 to 1855, and was justice of the peace in Gregg township from 1845 to 1865, and again from 1867 to 1878 - a total of thirty-one years and one month, his death interrupting his service. At the time of his decease he also held the office of jury commissioner. On November 22, 1832, he married Miss Rachel Reynolds, by whom he had three children: Henry, born August 9, 1833, died April 9, 1835, and twins, born February 28, 1836, of whom, the elder, a son, never breathed, and the younger, Sarah Ann, died February 22, 1894. The mother passed away March 14, 1841, and on January 10, 1842, Col. Rishel married Miss Catherine Homan, who died February 18, 1897, of pneumonia, at the age of eighty years, nine months and nineteen days, while living with her son, our subject, at the old homestead. There were four children by this union: Mary Elizabeth, born November 13, 1842, died November 12, 1881; Samuel, born April 18, 1846, died April 25, 1850; Martin, who is mentioned more fully below; and Rosetta, born November 27, 1853, who married E. F. Smith, a professor of music at Dakota, Illinois. Martin Luther Rishel was born at the old homestead January 3, 1850, and was reared to farm life, his education being limited to an attendance at the schools of the neighborhood for about two months and a half each year. He began his schooling at the age of four, with Wesley Plotner as his first teacher, and did not discontinue entirely until he reached the age of twenty-one. After attaining his majority he conducted the farm two years in partnership with his father, receiving one-fourth of the value of the products sold, and furnishing nothing. Later he rented the place on shares, and he afterward managed it on the same plan by an arrangement with the other heirs. [Since this was written, the aforesaid homestead has been sold through proceedings of court, and about 112 acres of the original homestead are now owned and occupied by M. L. Rishel and family.] On January 12, 1871, Mr. Rishel was mar- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 279 ried to Catherine Houtz, daughter of Edward and Catherine A. Houtz, and this union has been blessed with five children: John E., Carrie E., William F., Elizabeth J., and Rosa I., who are all at home. His family also includes his wife's mother, who is quite infirm, and was eighty- four years of age December 17, 1897. Edward Houtz died April 7, 1884, at the age of seventy-seven years and one month. Since his father's death Mr. Rishel has taken his place in local affairs, assisting with the same liberal spirit in all progressive movements. He is active in the support of the same Church, and during his twenty-five years of membership has held all the various offices therein, including those of deacon and elder. He differs from his father only in outward appearance, being six feet, one inch in height, and very slender. As a worker in the Democratic party, he has certainly fallen heir to his father's influence, and he has filled numerous township offices with characteristic ability and faithfulness. As school director he has sought to improve the usefulness of the local schools. In the spring of 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, to succeed his father, and has served ever since, even occupying the same room formerly used by his father as a court room, making forty-eight years that the duties of that office have been discharged by one family in one room. Mr. Rishel is fond of reading, keeping well-informd on the issues of the day, and his sterling qualities of character have won the respect of all who know him.