Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 283 - 284  

MARK, JACOB AND MARY RIESBECK are children of the late Adam and Mary Riesbeck, and reside at No. 844 East Oak street, Wichita. They are of pure German blood, although they were born in America. Their father was born in Germany, in the ancient city of Bremen, Dec. 24, 1827. He received a good education in the city of his birth, but before he had attained manhood he left the fatherland, in the year 1843, and came to America, where the chances were better for him to make a place and a home for himself. He landed in New York and went from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured work as a day laborer. In the following year (1844) he went to Ripley County, Ind., and rented a farm and became actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. During his residence in that State he married Miss Mary Emmrich, a most estimable lady, their wedding occurring Sept. 24, 1853. She was born May 24, 1830, in one of the French Provinces which were ceded to Germany after the late Franco-Prussian War. She came to America alone in 1853, and her first year in this country was spent in Buffalo, N. Y. 

     In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Riesbeck removed to this State with their family, and Mr. Riesbeck purchased 160 acres of land in Garden Plain Township, Sedgwick County. He immediately commenced the cultivation of the soil, and in a few years had a well developed farm, capable of producing rich harvests. There his years of usefulness were closed by death Oct. 30, 1883. Though he had been a resident of that township but a few years his genuine worth and ability had been recognized by his fellow-townsmen, and his removal from their midst was deplored as a loss to the community. Be was ever a devoted husband and father. In religion he was a faithful Catholic, and contributed liberally to the support of that church. During his long residence in America he had accumulated considerable property, and left his family very well off in this world's goods. 

     After the death of the father the family disposed of the farm and removed to this city to take up their residence here permanently. They built their present neat and tasty dwelling at a cost of $1,500. At one time, since the father's death, they went further west and took up some land, but they did not retain it long, for they afterward had a good opportunity to sell it at an advance, and did so, making quite a sum of money by that transaction. They are intelligent, well educated, and seem to have inherited considerable business talent from their father. They are all Catholics, and are communicants of Father Casey's Church at Wichita. The family have always been stanch supporters of the Democratic party. 

     The record of the children born to the parents of our subjects is as follows: Mark, Rose, Thresea, Mary, Lizzie, Katie, Frank and Jacob. Mark was born Aug. 4, 1854; he is unmarried. Rose is deceased; Thresea married Mr. Henry Trickler; Mary and Lizzie are single; Katie married Mathew Buhr, and lives in Denver.

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