My Genealogy Hound

REV. LEVI RISHER, post office Dravosburg, was born May 18, 1836, near the old Risher homestead. The family is of German descent and his ancestors settled in the Cumberland valley, being among the pioneers. One of their descendants, Daniel Risher, born near Chambersburg, was a playmate of Simon Girty before the latter turned renegade, and who afterward saved his life by warning him of an Indian attack. Risher in turn warned the settlers, and thus saved their lives. He was also in Braddock’s army in 1755. He was twice married, and reared, a large family. He at one time owned land at Cochran Station. His son, John Risher, settled near Whitehall, in Baldwin township, this county, but went to Missouri later in life, and died there. His son, Daniel, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born June 21, 1792, in Baldwin township, where he died Dec. 31, 1880. He owned about seven hundred acres of land, and did much to develop the resources of this county. He was a miller and distiller, and his brand of flour commanded a special price in Philadelphia for many years. He was a man of iron will and constitution; was a whig, but voted for Gen. Jackson, and later was a republican. He was a United Presbyterian in early life, but later a Presbyterian; his ancestors were Lutherans. His wife, Sarah Cready (formerly spelled Krate), was of Lutheran parentage, and was a thorough German home woman, earnest and strict, teaching the catechism to her children. She died May 11, 1875, aged eighty-four years and four days. Her children are John C., Maria, Ann, Susan, Elizabeth, Sarah, Amanda, Louisa and Ithamar D. Of these John C. was born Sept. 14, 1815, in Mifflin township. He married Nancy D., daughter of John McClure, and they had five children: Levi, Mrs. Agnes M. Crump, Daniel, Mrs. Sarah C. Snodgrass and John M. John C. Risher developed his father’s coal-land at Dravosburg, which had been leased, and was one of the leading coal-men on the river, and died in Allegheny City, Jan. 29, 1889. The capacity of J. C. Risher & Co.’s works is sixteen thousand bushels per day. They build their own boats and barges and ship to New Orleans and other points.

Levi Risher graduated at the Jefferson College in 1859, and at the Theological Seminary in 1862, and was pastor of Montour’s Run church for two years. From 1865 to 1869 he was a member of the firm of J. C. Risher & Co. From 1869 to 1876 he preached a Fairmount and Plains churches, near Sewickley; from 1876 to 1882 he was pastor a Dravosburg, and from 1882 to 1886 at Martinsburg, his labors being blessed at each place. He married Elmira P., a daughter of Maj. H. Alexander, of Clarion county, Pa and granddaughter of Jacob Hays, and they have five children: Alvin D., Mary A., John H., Percy A. and Frank O.