John J. Reiser Family

John J. Reiser was born February 7, 1887, the son of John G. Reiser and Ida (Flogous) Reiser; he was one of eight children, the others, Paul Reiser, Frank Reiser, Edith (Reiser) Sudholtz, Clara (Reiser) Kelley, Martha (Reiser) Manns, Luther Reiser, and Lillian Reiser. They were all horn in Napoleon, Ohio, and spent most of their childhood at 210 West Main Street, Napoleon, Ohio, where the youngest daughter still lives.

John often recalled his childhood activities and was extremely interested in baseball and football and later was on the city football and baseball teams. As a young boy his after school activities were to help his father who at that time was a stock buyer and operated a meat market. By the age of twenty he was associated with his father and one brother in the shoe business then known as John G. Reiser & Sons, located on the corner of Perry and W. Main Streets.

In 1909 John J. Reiser married Ella Mahnke, the daughter of Herman and Minnie (Badenhop) Mahnke who owned and operated a 160 acre farm in Freedom Township, Napoleon, Ohio. The Mahnke's and Badenhops came to Napoleon from Germany at an early age, and settled in the Napoleon and Freedom Township areas until the time they were married. There were four children: Adolph, George, Ella and Amelia (Mahnke) Arps.

John G. Reiser and Sons Shoe Store on corner of Perry and W. Main Streets. Left to right: Paul M. Reiser, John G. Reiser, John J. Reiser.

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Mr. and Mrs. John Reiser lived most of their married life in a home on W. Washington Street and over the years were blessed with three children: Lawrence D. Reiser, Hermenia Reiser, and Marcella (Reiser) Mohler. They have been life long members of the St. Paul's Lutheran now located on Glenwood Avenue.

A few years after his marriage, John J. Reiser went into business on his own and operated a shoe store at 725 N. Perry Street, and after a number of years sold this store to William J. Wendt which is still operating under the name of Wendt Shoe Store. He also operated a shoe store adjacent to the Hahn Clothing store until 1929.

In 1929, John J. Reiser and his son, Lawrence D. Reiser, entered into the insurance and real estate business. Lawrence spent one year at Ohio Northern University and at 19 years of age he and his father established this business which started in a one room office in the Vocke Building (now Charles Co.) into a progressive business at 219 W. Clinton St., and known as REISER REALTY & INSURANCE. The firm is proud to have one of the largest sales forces in Napoleon and in 1976 Reiser Realty will be celebrating their 47th anniversary. Lawrence D. Reiser made this his life profession and in 1949 Hermenia Reiser, daughter of John J. Reiser, joined the firm as a saleslady and at that time she was one of the first real estate salesladies in Henry County, and consequently the business developed into a father-sondaughter organization, until the death of John J. Reiser in 1961.

In September, 1972, due to illness, Lawrence sold his Insurance Agency to the Frost Insurance Agency, Holgate, Ohio. This firm is very capable and dependable and they are continuing to use the office at 219 W. Clinton Street as their Napoleon headquarters. One year later, on the 1st of July, Lawrence Reiser disposed of his interest in the real estate firm to his son-in-law, Donald R. Moore. Mr. Moore is a licensed real estate broker and realtor, and the firm, as before, are members of the Northwestern Ohio Real Estate Board and also the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Donald has been very successful in the operation of the firm and is exceedingly active in church, community affairs and sports. Elizabeth Ann, his wife, is office secretary, and they take pride in the fact that they have eight dependable and efficient salesmen. Lawrence D. Reiser is still active in a sales capacity and holds a broker's license, as well as a salesman's license.

On September 13th, 1961, John J. Reiser passed away; his widow Ella still survives, and a son and two daughters.

Their son, Lawrence, married Lillian Durham and they reside at 751 W. Clinton Street. They have three daughters, Elizabeth Ann, who is married to Donald R. Moore. Janice who is married to John Leatherman, and Rita, who is a student at Ohio State University. Six grandchildren, Dancie, Christopher and Kyle Moore and Mark, Nick and Michelle Leatherman.

The daughter, Hermenia Reiser, resides with her mother, Mrs. John J. Reiser, at 629 W. Washington Street, Napoleon, Ohio, and continues to be active in the real estate business.

Their third child, Marcella, is married to Mr. Daris R. Mohler and they reside at 925 Park Street, Napoleon, Ohio. They are proud parents of two children, a daughter Mrs. Douglas (Sandra) Lange, Napoleon, Ohio, and a son John D. Mohler, Napoleon, Ohio. They also have two granddaughters, Miss Suzanne Reiser Lange and Julianne Hennings Lange, both of Napoleon. Mr. Mohler, a World War II veteran, is active in dairy farm operation. His birthplace "The Mohler Farm" in Harrison Township has been a family tradition for the past 61 years. At the present time he is also serving as Henry County Commissioner.

Submitted by Lawrence Reiser