Philip H. Risling Biography


	This biography appears on pages 764-765 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here 
	Inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door 
	is at

	http://usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm


	PHILIP H. RISLING, now deceased, was born in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, June 16, 1825, and died on the 14th of May, 1893. His 
life record covered sixty-eight years - a period in which he wrought 
much good and in which he gained creditable success so that he left to 
his family a comfortable competence and an honorable name. He was a son 
of Lewis and Mary (Holler) Risling, both of whom were natives of 
Germany, whence they crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in 
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where they spent their remaining days The 
father was a farmer and also conducted a woolen factory. Unto him and 
his wife were born eleven children, two of whom are yet living.  

	Under the parental roof Philip H. Risling spent his boyhood days 
and in the public schools nearby he acquired his education. He was 
married in 1852 to Elmira Oldham, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Bower) Oldham, of Bedford county. In 1855 the parents removed to 
Clayton county, Iowa, where both died. Her father was a gunsmith by 
trade, but became a farmer and owned a well improved tract of land. In 
his family were five children: Mrs. Risling, Mary, Enoch F., Omer B. 
and Urian W. In his political views Mr. Risling was a Whig until the 
dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the Republican 
party. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Risling was blessed with eleven 
children: Truman S., Loretta H., Mary E., Celia, Florence; Juliet, 
George W., Frank B., Nellie F., Daniel W. and Lucinda. Of this number 
five are yet living. 

	In 1856 Philip H. Risling went from Clayton county, Iowa, to 
Spirit Lake in the same state, being one of its first settlers, and 
helped to build the first cabin there. After completing preparations 
for winter, he returned to his family in Clayton county, the snow being 
so deep he was unable to use a team and was compelled to walk tile 
entire distance, over two hundred miles. In March of the following 
spring the Indians perpetrator the terrible massacre at Spirit Lake, 
and, upon receipt of the news, Mr. Risling. with others, purchased 
coffins and gave the victims decent burials. In 1862 Mr. Risling 
removed from Spirit Lake, Iowa, to South Dakota, and secured a 
homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land, while later he 
entered another one hundred and sixty acres. It was covered with tall 
prairie grass, but not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made 
upon the place. He lost almost every thing in the great flood which 
caused a damage of seven thousand dollars to his property. The 
grasshoppers, too, destroyed his crops and the drought on another 
occasion burned up all that he had, but he persevered and would not 
allow discouragements to crush out his enterprising spirit. He worked 
on year after year making excellent improvements upon his property and 
in course of time he triumphed over the disadvantages which had 
attended his work. For thirteen years he conducted a market garden, 
doing a very extensive business in this way. He had a vegetable wagon 
in Yankton and enjoyed a large business which proved very profitable. 
In his political affairs he was a Republican, afterward became a 
Populist and later was an independent voter. Me belonged to the 
Lutheran church and in that faith he died. Mr. Risling came to Yankton 
county during the days when Indians lived here and he often fed many of 
them. He found them friendly, having no trouble with the red men. There 
is in his life history much that is worthy of emulation and 
commendation. He worked hard and though he had no special advantages at 
the outset of his career he progressed as time passed by and as the 
result of his earnest, persistent labors he accumulated a handsome 
competence, thus leaving his family in very comfortable circumstances. 
He was also honorable in his dealings with his fellow men, his life 
being in harmony with his professions as a Christian. Mrs. Risling and 
her son Daniel now own three hundred and ninety-five acres of valuable 
land, a part of which is cultivated while the remainder is used for 
pastorage purposes. They carry on general farming and Daniel also 
follows blacksmithing to some extent. The family has long been a 
prominent and influential one of the community, well meriting mention 
in this volume.