Amos L. Risser
Biography from Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, PA, page 987
Submitted by Pete MorozAMOS L. RISSER. Although some sections of the country complain that the younger generation of the agricultural sections are prone to leave the cultivation of the soil to hirelings and find less remunerative careers in the city, Lancaster county has had no cause to complain, for among the most successful farmers are those who have been reared to manhood on the fertile lands where they gladly remain, proud of their independence.
Among those in Ephrata township who have prospered according to their just deserts, is Amos L. Risser, whose fine farm is located about a quarter of a mile north of Lincoln, Pa. Although Mr. Risser began life with limited resources, he has been energetic, careful and industrious, and this has resulted in the accumulation of means and the acquisition of the valuable property upon which he resides.
Grandfather Risser was of German ancestry and was well known in Elizabeth township as a man of substance and respectability, his family consisting of three sons and three daughters: Peter, deceased; Christian; Henry; Katharine, who married Joseph Bucher; Elizabeth, deceased; Fannie, who married Benjamin Stauffer, deceased.
Christian Risser, the father of Amos L., of this biography, was born in 1828, and in 1850 married Katherine Landis, five children being born of this union: Reuben L., a prominent farmer of Clay township; Mary, who married Eli Hess, a farmer of Elizabeth township; Amos L.; Henry L., a farmer of Elizabeth township; and Christian L., on the old homestead, where the father still resides with him. The mother died April 16, 1900, aged sixty-nine years.
Amos L. Risser was born Aug. 1, 1859, and was reared to farm work, acquiring his education in the excellent public schools of the district. Industrious and provident, he soon became able to purchase land and finally secured his present fine farm, where he has made improvements of all kinds. The leaf tobacco business has claimed considerable attention and in this line he has had eminent success.
The marriage of Mr. Risser was on Sept. 26, 1886, to Miss Susan Eberley, a daughter of Michael L. and Louise (Gockley) Eberley, of Clay township, and there children have been born of this union: Lulu, born on Jan. 27, 1889; Kathryn, born Oct. 8, 1891; Helen Edith, born July 9, 1902. Michael Eberley, the father of Mrs. Risser, had five children: Lizzie died at the age of sixteen; Susan, Mrs. Risser; Alice, married to Daniel E. Miller, of Brunnersville; Lewis, a miller, of Clay Mills; David, a stenographer in Philadelphia.
While a Republican in politics, Mr. Risser has never given much attention to political matters, although he has consented to serve in several positions where he was directly interested, as school director, judge of elections and road supervisor, and in all worked for the good of the community to the best of his ability. An upright, excellent citizen, it is proper that his name should appear in a record of the representative men of Lancaster county.
Contributed for use by the Lancaster County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/~lancaster/)
Lancaster County Genealogy Project Notice:
These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format, for any presentation, without prior written permission.
Return to Biographical Annals Page
Return to the Lancaster County Genealogy Project