My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM RIESENBERG, of Turkey Creek township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Peoria, Ill., in August, 1860. His father, Carl Riesenberg, was a native of Germany, and came to America about 1850, locating in Peoria, and establishing a confectionery and fruit store. He served through the late war as chief bugler for General Funk and on a skirmish lost the sight of an eye. His death took place at Peoria in 1882. He was married in Germany to Miss Josephine Ellsner, and of his three children, William, our subject, is the youngest. His widow still resides in Peoria, at the age of sixty-eight years.

William Riesenberg first learned the photographic business and later the trade of a machinist, and worked at the latter in Peoria until 1878, when he came to Nebraska and located a homestead, on which he remained three years, and then returned to Peoria and worked as a machinist five years. In 1885 he married Miss Sarah Ward, daughter of Philip and Lydia Ward, of Logan county, Ill., who live at Emden. To this union have been born two children — Elsie and Carl. When he was twenty-one years of age, Mr. Riesenberg filed his homestead papers, and has since bought an eighty-acre tract, all situated in section 30, Turkey Creek township, Harlan county, and has about forty acres under cultivation. In 1887 he took up his permanent residence in the state, and when the town of Huntley was established he opened a grocery and drug store n the new village, and about the same time was appointed postmaster, which position he still holds. He is also serving as township clerk, and is highly respected by all who know him. He is a member of the order of the Sons of Veterans and of the Catholic church, and in politics is a stanch republican.