Sullivan County PA Archives Biographies.....REESER, John D. 1861 - 
  ************************************************
  Copyright.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
  ************************************************
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 4, 2007, 12:02 am
  
  Author: Thomas J. Ingham (1899)
  
       JOHN D. REESER, one of the leading retail merchants of Sullivan county, was
  born in Dushore, where he still resides, March 15, 1861. He received his
  education in the public schools of his native place and when eighteen years of
  age opened a confectionery store, which about a year later he converted into a
  general dry-goods store. In 1884 he took as his partner E. G. Sylvara and
  continued the business until 1891, when he sold his interest to Mr. Sylvara and
  opened his present establishment, which in one of the finest general department
  dry-goods and millinery stores in this section of the state. The millinery
  department is under the management of Mrs. Reeser, who has proved herself
  thoroughly capable of attending to all its details and making of it a most
  popular resort for the ladies of the county. Mr. Reeser is a self-made man and
  his success in business is due entirely to his own efforts, his careful
  management and strict attention to his affairs. He is a member of the town
  council and was at one time president of the borough council, but has always
  preferred to give his time and attention to his large and increasing business
  instead of courting the fickle favors of the political arena. He is a Royal Arch
  Mason and a member of the Northern Commandery. In politics he is independent,
  voting for the candidates whom he considers the best qualified to fill positions
  of trust and responsibility.
  
      Mr. Reeser was united in marriage March 4, 1884, to Miss Mary R. Burns,
  daughter of Henry C. and Clara Burns, and of this union three children have been
  born, namely: John D. Jr., Marjorie J. and Mabel D. Mrs. Reeser is a most
  estimable woman. Both she and her husband stand high in the estimation of their
  fellow citizens and are always ready to assist in anything that pertains to the
  growth and welfare of the community.
  
      John Reeser, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Berks county,
  Pennsylvania, November 15, 1790, and was a miller and farmer by occupation. In
  1821 he came to Sullivan county, locating at Loyal Lock Creek, on the farm known
  as the Ellis Stand, now owned by Mrs. Seaman. His wife, nee Madeline Betts, bore
  him nine children, namely: Daniel, William, Charles, Jeremiah, Amos, John,
  Reuben, Elizabeth and Susan. Mr. Reeser died December 9, 1860, at the advanced
  age of seventy years, and his wife January 8, 1869, having almost reached her
  seventy-sixth year.
  
      Amos Reeser, son of the foregoing and father of John D., was born in the
  Ellis farm November 27, 1822. His school advantages were very limited, and early
  in life he began business for himself by selling liquor throughout the county,
  subsequently conducting a hotel at Long Pond, now Lake Ganoga, and later ran the
  famous Ellis Stand on the property where he was born. From this place he moved
  to Dushore and managed at different times all the hotels at that place except
  the Carroll house. He retired from active business in the spring of 1886, on
  account of poor health, and departed this life September 10, 1897. Mr. Reeser
  was married January 1, 1846, to Miss Rebecca Dieffenbacher, who was born in
  Columbia county, August 8, 1826, a daughter of Jacob Dieffenbacher, who came to
  Sullivan county in 1829. Of this union seven children were born, as follows:
  Angeline, whose first husband was Daniel Vaughn and who is now the wife of Hiram
  Nichols, of Sayre, Pennsylvania; Lyman died when eighteen months old; Valine,
  wife of George Honnotter, of Dushore; Emeline, who became the wife of William
  Scureman, and both are deceased; Mary who is the widow of Barney Weiss, of
  Waverly, New York; Burnes is the wife of William McHenry, of Sciotavale,
  Pennsylvania; and John D., the subject of this sketch.
  
      Amos Reeser was a successful business man and was prominent in his locality.
  He held the offices of school director, tax collector, etc., fulfilling his
  duties with ability and to the general satisfaction of the public. In politics
  he was a Democrat and socially was a member of the I. O. O. F. His widow still
  resides on the old homestead in Dushore.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
      Extracted from: 
        
      History of Sullivan County Pennsylvania
      by Thomas J. Ingham
        
      Compendium of Biography
        
      The Lewis Publishing Company
      Chicago: 1899
  
  
  This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/
  
  File size: 4.8 Kb