Biography of David W. Riser, page 224.  History of Northeast Indiana; 
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties, Vol. II, under the 
editorial supervision of Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen, and 
William H. McIntosh.  The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 
1920.

   David W. Riser, who spent a large part of his earlier career over the 
state line in Ohio, in Williams County, has established a firm hold in 
DeKalb County, Indiana, as a farmer, business man and a citizen and owns 
one of the attractive country places in Troy Township. His farm is in 
sections 31 and 32, and lies three and a half miles northeast of Butler.
   Mr. riser was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 8, 1854, a son of 
Martin and Catherine (Ott) Riser.  The parents were both born in Germany, 
his father September 28, 1810, and his mother in March, 1828. They were 
married in the old country and on coming to the United States settled near 
Alliance, Ohio, where the father worked at common labor for several years. 
In 1861 he moved to Williams County, Ohio, settling near Edon, and 
afterward came to Stafford Township of DeKalb County, where he and his 
wife spent the rest of their years.  They were members of the German 
Lutheran Church, and the father was a democrat in politics. In their 
family were the following children: John, a farmer in Williams County, 
Ohio; Margaret, who died in 1862; George, a farmer in Stafford Township; 
David W., also a farmer; Christ, of Butler, Indiana; Mary, wife of Isaac 
Hose, of Butler; Catherine, wife of Frederick Blaker, of Troy Township; 
and William, who died in infancy.
  David W. Riser was reared in Stafford Township, attended the district 
schools and was at home with his parents to the age of twenty-one. After 
that he supported himself and managed to get some experience and a very 
modest equipment of capital by working out for others.  May 17, 1888, he 
married Mary I. Jennings, member of an old and prominent family of DeKalb 
County. She was born in Troy Township, May 5, 1870, a daughter of Jacob 
and Susan (Higby) Jennings.  Her mother was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
October 10, 1840, and was reared in Stafford Township of DeKalb County 
from August, 1851.  Jacob Jennings was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, 
December 12, 1829, and moved to Wilmington Township of DeKalb County, 
September 23, 1848.  He and his wife were married September 23, 1860, and 
moved to his farm in Troy Township in March, 1864.  He died September 27, 
1894, and his wife October 4, 1916. Mrs. Riser was the younger of two 
children, her brother, Eli L., born April 10, 1864, now lives at Elkhart, 
Indiana. Eli was a soldier in the Spanish-American war.  Mrs. Riser grew 
up on a farm in Troy Township and had a good education in the local 
schools.
   After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riser lived in Williams County until 
1898, when they located on their present farm.  The home place has 110 
acres, and altogether they own 158 acres. Mr. Riser and wife are members 
of the Christian Church at Butler. They are also members of the Grange at 
Butler. In politics he is a democrat, and he was trustee of Troy Township 
for two years.  He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Butler 
and a stockholder in the Arctic Co-operative Association.  Mr. Riser 
enjoys fishing as his recreation, and he and his wife have spent a winter 
or two in Florida.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com