Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameJohn Richstine 
Birth27 August 1790, Longswamp Twp, Berks Co, PA
Death29 September 1881, Peoria, IL
FatherJacob Richstine
MotherMaria Catherine Keiser
Spouses
Birth21 April 1788, North’d Co, PA
Death1874, Peoria, IL
FatherDavid Mertz (P2) (~1745-<1822)
MotherBarbara Miller (~1758-1834)
Marriage11 April 1811, North’d Co, PA2086
Research notes for John Richstine
Allen Tallman wrote this about the Richstine family. "The progenitor of the Richstine family is Jacob Richstine of Germany. He was born in 1756 and came to the new world about 1775 and he died in 1816 in Berks County. Jacob had six children and John was the youngest. Both Susannah and John were members of the German Reformed Church and followed this church all of their lives. John joined the church when he was 17 although he was baptized when an infant. Through John Richtstine's obituary we find that he was born 27 August 1790 in Longswamp Twp and that he died in Brimfield Township, Peoria County, IL on 29 September 1881. He is buried beside his wife in unmarked graves in the French Grove Cemetery, Millbrook Township, Peoria County, IL."
For all the work Tallman did on this family (his ancestors), while he seems to question some details in the earlier works of Floyd and Meiser, he misses the big point -- that there is no tie-in of these people to the Rockland Township (Berks County) Mertz family. He seems to come close to that realization, but never gets there. I generally have found much of what Tallman says about the earliest Mertzes to qualify as a work of fiction but I think his work on the lines that moved to Ohio and especially the lines associated with the Richstines is well researched.
For all the work Tallman did on this family (his ancestors), while he seems to question some details in the earlier works of Floyd and Meiser, he misses the big point -- that there is no tie-in of these people to the Rockland Township (Berks County) Mertz family. He seems to come close to that realization, but never gets there. I generally have found much of what Tallman says about the earliest Mertzes to qualify as a work of fiction but I think his work on the lines that moved to Ohio and especially the lines associated with the Richstines is well researched.
Parent-Proof notes for Susan (Spouse 1)
Susan Mertz married John Richstine and two of their children married Mertzes. Their son Henry married Catherine Mertz, daughter of David Mertz and Magdalena Schissler. And more importantly, their daughter Elizabeth married John Mertz. Earlier Mertz genealogists have only speculated on who John was and the consensus is that he was Catherine’s brother. That makes sense, but I’m not sure it’s proven.
Census History notes for Susan (Spouse 1)
1820. John Rechstine lives in Augusta Township, Northumberland County. He is age 26-44, his wife 45+ and they have 3 young sons and two young daughters living with them. It is true that Susan was 2 years older than John but she would only have been 32 — so there is something wrong with the ages as reported but there is no other candidate in this census to be them.
1830. Jon Reishstine lives in Northumberland Borough. He and his wife are both 30-39 and they have 9 younger persons spanning all the age brackets living with them.
1840. John Ricksline lives in Wayne Co, OH. He is age 40-49, his wife 50-59. They have possibly two children living with them.
1860. John and Susan Richstine live in Brimfield Twp, Peoria Co, IL. He is 69, she 71. Margaret 35, Susan 18, David 12 and Jacob H 9 live with them, all except Margaret must be grand-children. Neighbors are John and Maria Snyder and John and Elizabeth Mertz. Elizabeth is a daughter of John and Susan. It is not clear how the Snyders fit in, but I think they do.
1830. Jon Reishstine lives in Northumberland Borough. He and his wife are both 30-39 and they have 9 younger persons spanning all the age brackets living with them.
1840. John Ricksline lives in Wayne Co, OH. He is age 40-49, his wife 50-59. They have possibly two children living with them.
1860. John and Susan Richstine live in Brimfield Twp, Peoria Co, IL. He is 69, she 71. Margaret 35, Susan 18, David 12 and Jacob H 9 live with them, all except Margaret must be grand-children. Neighbors are John and Maria Snyder and John and Elizabeth Mertz. Elizabeth is a daughter of John and Susan. It is not clear how the Snyders fit in, but I think they do.
Research notes for Susan (Spouse 1)
Susan was born after her parents had moved from Berks to North’d County. She and her husband moved to Butler County, Ohio in about 1836. They then moved to Montgomery County in about 1844 to live with Susan’s brother David. Finally about 1855, they moved to Peoria County, IL where their son John had previously moved. There they lived out their lives.
Allen Tallman had a lot to say about Susanna Martz and her husband John Richstine. "John and Susannah Richstine lived in North'd County, PA from their marriage until 1836 for they are recorded in the 1820 and 1830 Census of North'd County, and also in the Tax list. In 1828, John and Susannah purchased a lot in the town of Northumberland on Water Street. This land was sold in 1836 but the deed was not recorded until 1838. Both John and Susannah's two oldest children, Henry and Elizabeth were married in Northumberland County. Henry removed to Cumberland County, and Elizabeth removed to Butler County, Ohio.
It was about 1836 that John and Susannah Richtstine removed with the remainder of their children and went to Butler County, Ohio. It is believed by this compiler that the family first moved to Madison Township, Butler County, but at least by 1840 John and his family were living in Wayne Township, Butler County, Ohio. The family is recorded in the 1840 Census of Wayne Township. This is also where their daughter Elizabeth and her husband John Martz had removed. The reason I believe John and Susannah first went to Madison Township is because Susannah's brother Abraham Martz had moved there in 1808 and was well established so it seems likely that would be their first stop.
Their next four children all married in Wayne Township, Butler County. They were John Jr. married Elizabeth Graft; Jacob married Amela Hartman; Hannah married John Bolyard and Mary married David Moore. This all happened from late 1839 to early 1842 and all are recorded in the Butler County Marriage Books. John Sr. and Susannah then removed to Montgomery County, Ohio about 1844. This move was to Susannah's brother David who was living in German Township, on a farm he had purchased in 1836. Their children went to different areas. Some stayed in other townships in Butler County and others left Ohio for Iowa and Indiana. Margaret, John and Susannah's youngest daughter stayed with them and went to Montgomery County.
David Martz was 60 years old when John and Susannah came to live with him and its a good possibility that he was not able to farm. In a letter John composed to his two sons in 1850 he refers to what he was growing and how much he sold the products for. This of course was David Martz's farm. So John Richtstine could have taken over the responsibility of the farm for David Martz. John was several years younger than David and John Richtstine lived to be over 91 years old. He must have been in much better physical condition than David. David died only 6 or 7 years after John and Susannah Richtstine arrived in German Township in about the year 1844.
The fact that John and Susannah were living on David's farm is verified as recorded in the 1850 Census of German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. David Martz never married so when he died he divided his estate between his brothers and sisters. On 13 August 1851 the Last Will and Testament of David Martz Jr. was recorded for probate and an item in that Will gave Susannah (Martz) Richtstine $1,000 to purchase a home. In March the 22nd day of 1853, Susannah purchased a 40 acre farm with a home in Jackson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio -- which they then sold on 26 January 1855.
After the sale and because his plans to buy land in Iowa near his son John Jr. fell apart because of his son's death in December 1850, John and Susannah decided to move near the daughter Elizabeth (Richtstine) Martz in Brimfield Township, Peoria County, IL. John and Elizabeth Martz had moved there earlier and John and Susannah Richtstine purchased an 80 acre farm next to John and Elizabeth Martz. John Richtstine built a home on this 80 acres and farmed this land from 1855 until his death in 1881. Although they gave this land by deed to their daughter Margaret, John still farmed it until his death.
When they left Ohio, Margaret had one illegitimate child that removed with them to IL.
Obituary of John Richtstine. Died at his home four miles north of Elmwood, on Thursday, September 29,1881, Mr. John Richtstine, aged 91 yrs, 1 mo and 2 days. The remains were interred at French Grove on Saturday, October 1st. Grandfather Richtstine was born August 27th, 1790, in Berks County, PA. For a number of years he lived in Sunbury, PA. In 1835 he moved to Butler County, Ohio, and in 1855 to his last home in Peoria County, IL. He was baptized in Infancy, and united with the German Reformed Church at the age of 17. He lived true to his faith and belief as long as life lasted. His best friend and consoler was his bible, and he never retired to rest without repeating the ten commandments. His favorite book was a large bible that was printed in Germany about the year 1425, now 350 years old, and we trust it has pointed him safe to that haven of rest beyond the storms of time.
He was married April 11th, 1811, to Susannah Martz. For 63 year they bore life's burdens together; in 1874 her mission on earth was ended, and she was called home, and now their bodies lie side by side asleep in death, quietly awaiting the resurrection.
He was the youngest of six children. Long life characterized the family, for they averaged 83 1/2 years, or a total of 501 years. John lived to be the oldest."
Allen Tallman had a lot to say about Susanna Martz and her husband John Richstine. "John and Susannah Richstine lived in North'd County, PA from their marriage until 1836 for they are recorded in the 1820 and 1830 Census of North'd County, and also in the Tax list. In 1828, John and Susannah purchased a lot in the town of Northumberland on Water Street. This land was sold in 1836 but the deed was not recorded until 1838. Both John and Susannah's two oldest children, Henry and Elizabeth were married in Northumberland County. Henry removed to Cumberland County, and Elizabeth removed to Butler County, Ohio.
It was about 1836 that John and Susannah Richtstine removed with the remainder of their children and went to Butler County, Ohio. It is believed by this compiler that the family first moved to Madison Township, Butler County, but at least by 1840 John and his family were living in Wayne Township, Butler County, Ohio. The family is recorded in the 1840 Census of Wayne Township. This is also where their daughter Elizabeth and her husband John Martz had removed. The reason I believe John and Susannah first went to Madison Township is because Susannah's brother Abraham Martz had moved there in 1808 and was well established so it seems likely that would be their first stop.
Their next four children all married in Wayne Township, Butler County. They were John Jr. married Elizabeth Graft; Jacob married Amela Hartman; Hannah married John Bolyard and Mary married David Moore. This all happened from late 1839 to early 1842 and all are recorded in the Butler County Marriage Books. John Sr. and Susannah then removed to Montgomery County, Ohio about 1844. This move was to Susannah's brother David who was living in German Township, on a farm he had purchased in 1836. Their children went to different areas. Some stayed in other townships in Butler County and others left Ohio for Iowa and Indiana. Margaret, John and Susannah's youngest daughter stayed with them and went to Montgomery County.
David Martz was 60 years old when John and Susannah came to live with him and its a good possibility that he was not able to farm. In a letter John composed to his two sons in 1850 he refers to what he was growing and how much he sold the products for. This of course was David Martz's farm. So John Richtstine could have taken over the responsibility of the farm for David Martz. John was several years younger than David and John Richtstine lived to be over 91 years old. He must have been in much better physical condition than David. David died only 6 or 7 years after John and Susannah Richtstine arrived in German Township in about the year 1844.
The fact that John and Susannah were living on David's farm is verified as recorded in the 1850 Census of German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. David Martz never married so when he died he divided his estate between his brothers and sisters. On 13 August 1851 the Last Will and Testament of David Martz Jr. was recorded for probate and an item in that Will gave Susannah (Martz) Richtstine $1,000 to purchase a home. In March the 22nd day of 1853, Susannah purchased a 40 acre farm with a home in Jackson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio -- which they then sold on 26 January 1855.
After the sale and because his plans to buy land in Iowa near his son John Jr. fell apart because of his son's death in December 1850, John and Susannah decided to move near the daughter Elizabeth (Richtstine) Martz in Brimfield Township, Peoria County, IL. John and Elizabeth Martz had moved there earlier and John and Susannah Richtstine purchased an 80 acre farm next to John and Elizabeth Martz. John Richtstine built a home on this 80 acres and farmed this land from 1855 until his death in 1881. Although they gave this land by deed to their daughter Margaret, John still farmed it until his death.
When they left Ohio, Margaret had one illegitimate child that removed with them to IL.
Obituary of John Richtstine. Died at his home four miles north of Elmwood, on Thursday, September 29,1881, Mr. John Richtstine, aged 91 yrs, 1 mo and 2 days. The remains were interred at French Grove on Saturday, October 1st. Grandfather Richtstine was born August 27th, 1790, in Berks County, PA. For a number of years he lived in Sunbury, PA. In 1835 he moved to Butler County, Ohio, and in 1855 to his last home in Peoria County, IL. He was baptized in Infancy, and united with the German Reformed Church at the age of 17. He lived true to his faith and belief as long as life lasted. His best friend and consoler was his bible, and he never retired to rest without repeating the ten commandments. His favorite book was a large bible that was printed in Germany about the year 1425, now 350 years old, and we trust it has pointed him safe to that haven of rest beyond the storms of time.
He was married April 11th, 1811, to Susannah Martz. For 63 year they bore life's burdens together; in 1874 her mission on earth was ended, and she was called home, and now their bodies lie side by side asleep in death, quietly awaiting the resurrection.
He was the youngest of six children. Long life characterized the family, for they averaged 83 1/2 years, or a total of 501 years. John lived to be the oldest."
Children Names notes for Susan (Spouse 1)
Their son Henry married Catharine Mertz and their daughter Elizabeth married John Mertz. John and Catharine were brother and sister, children of David Mertz and Magdalena Shissler.