The John G. Reiser Family

As a child, I remember our family Bibles - one printed in German - along side two family picture albums, occupying a prominent place in our home. Later on, I studied the history of our country and the immigration of so many people to this great land of opportunity; some who made personal sacrifices and through their struggles and hard work, made this United States of America, a better place to live. I then realized that in my own home, within these treasured books, were news clippings, notices, letters and pictures which told a true story of my own family's arrival in this country and the part they played in making this land a better place to live. And so, now I tell it to you.

My paternal grandparents were Mathias Reiser and Rosina Meyer Reiser. In 1846, at the age of 14, Mathias left Germany and came to the United States to seek a better way of living. He located at Massillon, Ohio, but later moved to Defiance County. In 1849, he came to Henry County where he resided for the rest of his life. For half a century he was engaged actively with the business and civic interests of Napoleon, Ohio. At various times, he was in the grocery, saloon, butcher, and stock business, besides looking after large farming interests. He held the office of councilman for Napoleon and in 1893 was elected Henry County commissioner, which office he held for several terms.

Grandma Reiser (Rosina Meyer) was born in 1838 in Westheim Hall County, Kingdom of Wittenberg, Germany. Her father (my great grandpa Meyer) was the village blacksmith. Soon after her confirmation in the Lutheran Church in Westheim, at age 14, she followed her brother to America, making the arduous voyage in a sailing vessel. She resided in Newark, New Jersey, for sometime and in later life treasured the silken clothed menu (dated 1851) given to her while dining at the Astor House in New York City. In 1855, she came to Napoleon where she kept house for her brother Charles. On the thirteenth of April, 1857, a memorable event took place as both Rosina and Charles were married; Rosina to Mathias Reiser. For nearly fifty years they were permitted to enjoy life's blessings together. They were faithful members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. To this union were born three girls and five boys. Three girls and one boy died in infancy. The four boys surviving their parents were: John G., my father, Mathias, Charles, and Jacob. Grandpa Reiser died at the age of 76 in 1908. Grandma Reiser died in 1907 at the age of 68.

John G. Reiser and Ida Flogaus Reiser married May 1,1884.

My maternal grandparents were John F. Flogaus and Elizabeth Steiger Flogaus. Grandpa Flogaus was born in 1822, in Germany. As a young boy he was a sheepherder in the Alps. His father (my great grandfather Flogaus) had a wine garden in Germany. Grandpa Flogaus had a brother Mike in the United States who convinced him to come to a land full of opportunities. He left a sister in Germany and settled in Napoleon Township, where he spent 27 years, farming. He married Elizabeth Steiger, my grandmother and in 1885 moved to Napoleon with his family to spend his retirement years, still keeping his farming interests.

Mathias Reiser Sr., Henry Co. Commissioner. Photo taken after winning $150 wager with several Henry Co. Republicans, that Grover Cleveland would win the Presidential Election. He is bedecked in the campaign spirit of the day -- a big horn, a Grover Cleveland badge and the amount of his wager written on a piece of cardboard and tied to his hat with an American flag.

Gramdma Flogaus (Elizabeth Steiger) was a native of grand-duchy of Hesse, Germany, where her father was government forester. She was born in 1835 at Mimingrumbach. Reaching the age of 14, she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. A year later she lost her mother and it was probably because of this great loss of one so dear to her that induced her some years later to immigrate with her friend Magdalene Barth and her friend's widowed mother, to America. Upon the arrival of three weary travelers in New York, after a long voyage in a sailing vessel they were met by her friend's half brother, John Long. A short time after having set foot on American soil, the new immigrants proceeded upon the toilsome journey overland to Florida, Ohio. Elizabeth, my grandmother, made her home with the Longs until her marriage in 1858 to John F. Flogaus, a young farmer. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Adam Detzer of Defiance, Ohio, in the home of Andrew Sherman, Napoleon, Ohio. They were faithful members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. God blessed this marriage and gave them two sons and three daughters. Frank, John Jr., Mary, Ida, my mother, Louise and Emma, also 22 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Grandpa Flogaus died at the age of 80 in 1902. Grandma Flogaus died in 1917 at the age of 82.

John G. Reiser and Sons meat market located on Perry Street between Miami-Erie Canal and Maumee River.

John G. Reiser Family. Front row, left to right: Frank, John G. - father, Lillian, Ida - mother, Luther; back low: John J., Martha, Edith, Clara, Paul.

To these grandparents, I owe the heritage of my devoted father and dear mother. I remember my mother telling me how my father courted her - walking several miles down the railroad track (a short cut to her house) on Saturday night, not allowed to use a horse as the horses needed their rest from working in the fields. But, he was a steady suitor and on May 1, 1884, John G. Reiser, my father, and Ida Barbara Magdalena Flogaus, my mother, were married by Rev. L. Dulitz, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. They began housekeeping on a farm one mile north of Napoleon. One of their wedding gifts was a wagon and a horse but it wasn't long before Papa surprised Mama and purchased a fringed surrey in which to drive his new bride to town. In 1894, my father bought a two room house at 210 W. Main Street and began remodeling and enlarging the house to meet the family needs which at that time included 5 children. This house, our family home, is where I now reside. My father had many business interests. Besides managing several farms, he bought and sold stock, maintaining a stock yard at the D.T.I. Railroad. He owned a meat market on West Washington Street but later moved to a location between the canal and river. He and his sons did their own butchering for this shop, where children knew they could come to get a free weiner. He also bought a shoe store which he and sons operated at the corner of Perry and Main Streets. Here on display was an alligator, which one day escaped and was rescued near the Miami Erie Canal. Poor health forced my father to an early retirement and at the age of 56 died on Jan. 6, 1921, leaving my mother, 8 children, and many grandchildren. My mother continued life with the love and devotion found in our Christian home until her death on Feb. 10, 1949, at the age of 83. They and their children were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio. To this union was born 8 children:

Paul M. (1885-1957) married Lena Pohlman. He was actively engaged in the shoe and meat business, as well as farming. Their children are Richard, Raymond, Ralph, Robert, Rutheda Rohrs, and Rosemarie Gebhardt.

John J. (1887-1961) married Ella Mahnke. He was in the shoe and meat business, and established The Reiser Realty Ins. Co. Their children are Lawrence, Hermenia, and Marcella Mohler.

Frank M. (1888-1961) was in the shoe and meat business and also engaged in farming. Later in his life he accepted a position with The Cleveland News Co. which he held until his retirement.

Edith L. (1891-) gave piano lessons. She married William Sudholtz, a supervisor at The Defiance Machine Shop. He also had interests in farming. After her husband's death, Edith was employed by Campbell Soup Co. until her retirement in 1958. Their children are Dorothy Mueller and John.

Clara N. (1894-) taught school in Ridgeville. She married Clayton F. Kelley. He was Henry County Engineer and Superintendent of Napoleon Water and Light Plant, later becoming Division Operation Engineer in the State Highway Department. Their children are Claranetta Rozelle and Clayton N.

Martha E. (1899-) taught school north of Napoleon, during World War I. She married Walter H. Manns, who was co-owner of United Provision Co., Cleveland, Ohio, supplier of meat to hotels and restaurants. Their children are Martha Bernadine May, and Walter J.

Luther M. (1904-1954) attended Valparaiso University and graduated from Ohio Northern University. He was Personnel Director of Campbell Soup Co., until his death. He married Evelyn Welshimer, who after her husband's death, moved to Bowling Green and taught at Bowling Green University until her retirement. Their child is John L.

Lillian E. (1908-) (the author) attended Valparaiso University and graduated from Bowling Green University. After completing 46 years of teaching in the public schools of Berea, Lakewood, and Napoleon, Ohio, I retired in 1974.

Now, I have given you a look into my family's history, as I know it. And as John Steinbeck said, "How will they know it's us, without the past."

Submitted by Lillian Reiser