Person Page 765

William David Riegel was born on 25 Jan 1850 in Turbut Twp., Northumberland Co., PennsylvaniaG.^4,5,6
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Turbut Twp., Northumberland Co., PennsylvaniaG, in the household of his parents, Jacob K. Riegel and Christiana Ohl.¹²
     William and his twin brother Benjamin were baptized on 1 Dec 1850 in Follmers Evangelical Lutheran Church, Turbot Twp.G, Rev. S. R. Boyer officiating. Their own parents acted as sponsors.^13,4
     His father died on 13 Sep 1857, when William was 7 years old.¹⁴ William appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., PennsylvaniaG, in the household of Erastus Ketner and Sarah Amanda Bortz, neighbors of his family.¹⁵
     William appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Watsontown, Delaware Twp., Northumberland Co., PennsylvaniaG, in the household of his mother, Christiana Ohl.¹⁶ He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Delaware Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania G, in the household of his mother.¹⁷
      Early records show William's surname spelled in various ways, but he seems to have adopted the spelling Reigel by the time he moved to Missouri, perhaps influenced by his twin brother who was using that spelling. It was used consistently in most legal documents.^18,19,20 But other records, including those if trial, used the spelling Reigle. Most if not all of his children seem to have used that spelling, although several later changed to other spellings.^21,22,23

Moving West --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     It seems likely that William joined his twin brother Benjamin and his family in Missouri sometime after 1880, then moved with them to Kansas.²⁴ He appeared on the 1885 State Census of Kirwin, Phillips Co., KansasG, in the household of Benjamin and his wife, Esther Matilda Gann.²⁵
     William married Mary J. Quakenbush, daughter of John Quakenbush and Permelia Jewel, on 20 Sep 1888 in Phillips Co., KansasG.^7,8,9
     He was a farm laborer in 1880, and later a farmer in his own right.^{17,26,27,28,29}
      On 1 Oct 1890 William was granted a patent for 40 acres of land in Phillips Co., KansasG, under the Cash Entry Act of April 24,1820. His tract was described as the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25, twp. 1 south, range 17 west. He paid $1.25 per acre, a total of $50.^30,31 On 13 Feb 1893 William and Mary sold that property to Lanty P. Hogan for $250.³²
     William was named an heir in the will of Christiana Ohl, his mother, dated 19 May 1891, but received nothing when she died because all the assets were used to settle debts.³³
     William and Mary appeared on the 1895 State Census of Glenwood Twp., Phillips Co., Kansas, at Crow G, reporting that he had moved to Kansas from Missouri, and she from Indiana. Their children Ida, John, Alice, and Frank were listed as living with them.³⁴
     William and Mary appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Sumner Twp., Phillips Co., Kansas G, enumerated 28 Jun 1900, reporting that the family owned its farm on government land. Their children Ida, John, Alice, Frank, Leta, James, and Iva were listed as living with them, as was Leonard W. Cottrill, a 23-year-old farm laborer.³⁵
      On 16 Sep 1904 William was granted a patent for an 80-acre parcel in Phillips Co., KansasG, about half a mile east of his prior grant, based on the homestead act of 20 May 1862. That act required the applicant to improve the property by building a dwelling, cultivating the land, and residing there for five years.³⁶
     William and Mary moved to MissouriG about 1905 leaving several of their children with neighbors for a time.^37,38 William and Mary sold that property to Greene Price for $800 on 29 Mar 1906, after they had moved to Webster Co., Missouri.³⁹
      On 26 Jun 1907 William was granted a patent for 40 acres in Webster Co., MissouriG, under the Cash Entry Act of April 24, 1820.¹⁹
     William and Mary appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Hazelwood Twp., Webster Co., Missouri G, enumerated 3 May 1910, reporting that the family owned its farm, which was mortgaged. Their children Ida, Alice, Leta, James, and Iva were listed as living with them.²¹

Troubling Times --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In mid-1911 William was charged with what a local newspaper described as "statutory seduction of his 13 year-old daughter." According to oral history passed to the victim's descendants, his wife pressed his prosecution after two daughters were abused.^40,41 William evidently fled to La Center, WashingtonG, where his twin brother, Benjamin, lived. He was arrested there 20 Aug 1911, as wanted in Mansfield, Missouri, for rape. On 27 Aug 1911, Webster Co. Missouri Sheriff C. B. Shields left to bring him back to Missouri.^42,43 Gov. M. E. Hay of Washington granted extradition papers authorizing William David's return to Missouri, and he was released to the Missouri sheriff 2 Sep 1911.^44,45
     William was arraigned in Webster Co., MissouriG, circuit court on 19 Sep 1911, pleading guilty. The court assessed his punishment as two years in the state penitentiary. According to press reports, he was charged with statutory rape, but plead guilty to the lessor charge of felonious assault. The orignal charge, because of the age of victim, carried a penalty of death or imprisonment of not less than five years, while assault carried a penalty of not over five years.^46,47,48,49
     On 27 Sep 1911 he was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary from that day, and ordered the sheriff to transport him to the penitentiary without delay.⁵⁰ William arrived at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City on 30 Sep 1911. He was discharged 26 Mar 1913 under the "¾ law."⁵¹
     William was reported in the obituary of his sister Violetta in May 1924 to be living in Portland, OregonG. A William Reigel, of Portland, and four other strike sympathizers, were arrested in San Francisco in May 1921 after assaulting members of a non-union crew of a steamship. Whether that was him is unclear. No record of his having been there has been found, nor has any other record been found of him after his discharge.^52,53
     William apparently died about 1924 at age ~74.^10,11