BIO: John Riegel, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

430  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JOHN RIEGEL, retired merchant, secretary of Allen and East 
Pennsborough Mutual Fire Insurance Company, member of the Mechanicsburg 
Gas and Water Company, Mechanicsburg, is the oldest native born 
resident of Mechanicsburg, where he first saw the light of the day, 
August 14, 1818.  His parents John Adam and Esther (Brandt) Riegel, 
were born and raised in what is now Dauphin County, Penn.  John Adam 
Riegel came to Mechanicsburg, this county, in 1816, formed a 
partnership with John Coover, and opened a dry goods and general store, 
the first one of any importance in the town.  Mr. Riegel was elected 
city burgess by the people of Mechanicsburg and held other offices of 
trust, including that of trustee of the Union Church.  He died January 
11, 1851, aged fifty-six years and some months.  His wife was a member 
of the Dunkard Church.  They had three sons and five daughters, of whom 
two sons and four daughters are now living; Levi; John; Margaret, wife 
of Daniel Ulrich; Sarah, wife of John Stine, a retired Methodist 
Episcopal minister of Mechanicsburg; Eliza, widow of Dr. J. B. Herring; 
Mary, wife of George Zacharias, residing in Mechanicsburg, Catharine, 
wife of Christian Brandt, died in 1878.  John, the second son and 
child, attended the schools of Mechanicsburg, and clerked for his 
father until 1848, when he engaged in business for himself, and, at the 
death of his father, succeeded him.  In 1867 he closed out his 
business, retaining the property which included the building occupied 
by the Second National Bank and his residence, adjoining which is the 
old homestead once owned by Adam Riegel (deceased).  Mr. Riegel married 
at Lebanon, Lebanon Co., Penn., September 5, 1843, Miss Susan Adams 
Ingol, who was born in Baltimore, Md., April 28, 1826, only daughter of 
Samuel and Susannah (Moulton) Ingol, natives of England and 
Newburyport, Mass., respectively; they were members of the 
Congregational Church.  Mr. and Mrs. Riegel are members of the Lutheran 
Church (general council).  They have had two children:  Sarah Gertrude, 

431  BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

wife of Rev. Johnson R. Groff, a Lutheran minister of Danville, Penn., 
and Nellie, born in 1847, first wife of Maj. Azor H. Nickerson and who 
died, in 1867, at Fort Boise, Idaho.  Mr. Riegel is one of the pioneers 
of Cumberland County, and stands high in the estimation of all as an 
upright business man and Christian gentleman.  He held an office in the 
school board twenty-one years.  He has lived to see the borough undergo 
many interesting and important changes and can remember when there were 
but twelve houses, of which but one is now standing - the building on 
the northeast corner of Federal and Main Streets, where he was born.  
Mr. Riegel is a grandson of John Adam Riegel, who came with his 
brothers, Abraham and Samuel Riegel, from Germany and settled near 
Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., Penn.