Charles J. Riser
Charles J. Riser, a worthy native son of Allamakee county and
a prosperous and esteemed resident of the Village of Church, is
now serving for the second year as secretary of the Calhoun
Creamery. He was born on the home farm in Lansing township, this
county, his parents being John and Eva (Kaam) Riser. The former,
whose birth occurred in Berne, Switzerland, on the 21st of
February, 1829, accompanied his parents on their emigration to
the United States in 1843, the family home being established in
Madison county, Illinois, where he learned the carpenter’s
trade. In 1852 he came to Allamakee county, Iowa, and helped
erect the first home on the Riser place in Lansing township.
Going back to Madison county, Illinois, he purchased eighty acres
of land and there resided for two years. On the expiration of
that period he returned to Allamakee county and purchased a tract
of one hundred and twenty-four acres in Lansing township,
continuing to reside thereon and being busily engaged in its
cultivation throughout the remainder of his active business
career. His last years were spent in the home of his son, Charles
J., his demise occurring at Church in January, 1907. He passed
away in the faith of the German Congregational church and his
death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had
been a resident of this county for more than a half century and
had become well known and highly esteemed within its borders. He
was first married in Illinois to a Miss Anderson, who died in
that state, leaving one son, John , a resident of Illinois. For
his second wife Mr. Riser chose Miss Eva Kaam, a native of Berne,
Switzerland, who passed away on the old home farm in Lansing
township in 1893. By this union there are eleven children, as
follows: Mrs. John Schupbach, who is a resident of Madison
county, Illinois; Caroline, of Allamakee county; Fred, living in
Woodbury county, Iowa; Henry, of Idaho; George, who makes his
home in Colorado; Amelia, who is the wife of L. W. Wendel of
Belmond, Iowa; Rosa; Charles J., of this review; Theodore;
Pauline, and Elizabeth.
Charles J. Riser attended the common schools in the acquirement
of an education and when not busy with his text-books assisted
his father in the work of the home farm. In 1900 he purchased the
property from his father and continued its operation until 1905,
when he sold the place. During the following six years he was
engaged in business as a member of the firm of Decker & riser
general merchants at Church. For the past two years, however, he
has devoted his attention to his duties as secretary of the
Calhoun Creamery and in this connection has won a creditable and
gratifying measure of success.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Riser
chose Miss Clara Martinson, by whom he has five children, Hazel,
Edgar, Carl, Leigh and Harold. The family home is the most
attractive and pleasing in Church. In the community where his
entire life has been spent he has gained a large circle of
friends who esteem him as a man of genuine personal worth and
many sterling traits of character.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index