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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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RISSER, JACOB, miller, Sec. 5; P. O. West Point; a son of Daniel Risser, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 25, 1784, and May 26, 1811, married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Smith; she was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Nov. 28, 1786; having passed her wedded life in the same house in which she was born, she died in 1824, leaving a family of one son and three daughters; with them the father came to America, and died at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1838; Mr. Risser, the only son, was born Dec. 12, 1815; at the age of 16, was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker; served out his apprenticeship, and worked at jour work a few years; in 1841, he embarked in business for himself in Cleveland, Ohio, and on Dec. 8, 1842, he married Amelia M., daughter of John Miller, the account of whose murder appears in this volume; she was born near the city of Newburg, on the Danube, May 16, 1821, and with her parents emigrated to America when 21 years of age; in the spring of 1845, they emigrated to Lee Co., and settled on a farm southwest of West Point; in 1854, came to their present place of residence near West Point, where he owns his residence, ninety acres of land and one-half interest in a mill, all valued at $6,700. Have six children-Daniel F., born at Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 8, 1843, now a teacher at Summerfield, Ill.; John, born Dec. 17, 1845, a farmer of Pleasant Ridge Tp.; Jacob M., born Nov. 2, 1847, also a farmer of Pleasant Ridge Tp.; Abraham, born Aug. 30, 1850, died Feb. 22, 1852; Mary A., born Dec. 7, 1853; Annie A., born March 22, 1858, died April 6, 1858.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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