June Term 1840, Butler County, Ohio Common Pleas Journal Vol 17
"Peter Rife an alien
Be it known that on the _____day of ____ in the term of June one thousand eight hundred and forty before the Honorable Benjamin Hinkson Esquire President and Daniel Millikin and Vincent D. Eryant Esquire Associate Judges of our Court of Common pleas of the County of Butler in the State of Ohio hear at Hamilton comes Peter Rife an alien a native of Germany who being duly sworn in open Court deposeth and saith that he was of the age of twenty two years in the month of April last past that in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty four he emigrated from Germany and came to the United States of America being then a minor, that he has resided within the limits and under the Jurisdiction of the United States for more than three years next preceding his arriving at the age of twenty one years and continued to reside therein to the time of making this application being more than five years last past and that in the three years next preceding this application it hath been bonafide his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince Potentate State or sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to the Emperor of Germany whereof he is now a subject: and praying to be admitted to become a citizen of the United States: And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court by the oath of Ferdinand Eberhard and Martin Seifert citizens of the United States that the said Peter Rife has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for more than five years last past and for more than one year in the State of Ohio and that during that period he has behaved as a man of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same: and that for more than three years last past it has been the bonafide intention of said applicant to become a citizen of the United States and the said Peter Rife having on his solemn oath in open Court declared that he will support the Constitution of the United States and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounces and abjure all allegiances and fidelity to any foreign Prince Potentate State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly to the Emperor of Germany where of he has herebefore been a subject. The said Peter Rife is therefore admitted to become a citizen of the United States"
Based on this document:
- Peter was born April 1818 in Bavaria, Germany.
- Peter emigrated from Bavaria in 1834 at the age of 15 or 16 depending if it was before or after April of 1834.
Greenwood Cemetery Records Hamiltion, Butler County, Ohio
"Interment date 06/30/1867 died of softening of the brain at age 51 years. Next of kin (usually a parent) is listed as Peter Rief. Tomstone indicates born in 1817 and died in 1867."
Based on this document:
- Peter died June of 1867.
- Peter was born in 1816.
1850 St. Clair Township, Butler County, Ohio. Page 251 taken in September, 1850
"J. P. Rife, age 31 years, blacksmith, born in Germany"
Based on this document:
- Peter's first name is not Peter, but a name beginning with "J".
- Peter was born in 1819.
1860 Census St. Clair Township, 1st Ward Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio page 7 taken June, 1860.
"Peter Reiff , age 43, M. Blacksmith, born Bavaria, Germany"
Based on this document:
- Peter was born in 1817.
Hamilton Daily Democrat July 23, 1889.
"A Family Reunion
Mrs. Elizabeth Rife has for many years resided in this city. Her husband, Peter Rife who died several years ago, a blacksmith by trade, will be remembered by all of our old citizens. Mr. Rife came over from Germany in company with John W. Sohn and the two men were always fast friends. Ever since that time Mrs. Elizabeth Rife has been a resident of this city; she is the ancestor of a numerous progeny. Children and grandchildren have married and settled in this city, all of whom love the old grandmother who so tenderly in past years cared for their welfare. This evening she rounded her 66th birthday anniversary and the event was the occasion of a happy family reunion. About 5 o'clock her large family representing four generations congregated at her residence in the First ward and took her completely by surprise. After a pleasant hour spent at her residence the party retired to the house of Mrs. Jacob Shellhouse, where an excellent supper was served. The occasion will be long remembered by those present as a happy family gathering. Those present were of the first generation, Mrs. Elizabeth Rife; of the second, her children most of whom are married, namely, Mr. and Mrs., Jacob Shell house, Mr. and Mrs. George LeveIine, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Castator, Mr. and Mrs. John Rife, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rife, Mr. and Mrs. George Rife, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rife and the Misses Nora and Nellie Rife. Of the third generation, grandchildren, who are married were Mr. and Mrs. John Tucker, Mr. and Mrs. George Menche, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Levline; unmarried, John, Maurice, George, Alice and Katie Shellhouse; Eva and Nora Levline; Harry, .James, Daniel, William, Fred, Bertha and Katherine Castator; John, Charles, .James, Cora, Fannie, Earl, Walter, Paul, Ralph, Calvin and Thomas Rife. Of the fourth generation were present: Susan, Nellie, Julia and John Tucker, Larsh Menche, Mrs. Mary Menche and Miss Cora Miller. A sister and a grandniece of Mrs. Elizabeth Rife were also present. But two members of this large family were absent one unmarried son Albert. living in Indiana and one daughter Mrs. Rose Gormley, with four children, living in Topeka Kansas "
Based on this document:
- Peter either came from Germany with John W. Sohn or met him on the way from Germany to America.
- John W. Sohn was born in (Bad) Windsheim, Bavair, Germany May 23rd, 1815. He left Bavaira, Germany through Bremen in 1834, landing in Baltimore. He came west on foot, with an occasional ride on a canalboat. In Hamilton, which he reached in November, 1834.
Eighteenth and nineteenth century emigrants from Lachen-Speyerdorf in the Palatinate (page 34) by Annette K. Burgert
"318R (same date [20.2.1834]) Anna Elisabeth Hamman, Witwe von Heinrich Reif von Lachen mit ihrem 16 jaehrign Sohn Johann"
"318R (same date [20.2.1834]) Anna Elisabeth Hamman, widow of Heinrich Reif from Lachen with her 16 year old son Johann"
"Part of the 1834 group emigration from Lachen arrived in New York City on the ship Poland 18 May 1834. That group led by Friedrich Kaufholtz and Nicolaus Reiss arrived in New York on the ship Harve 13 June 1834. Many of the first group settled in Pike County, Ohio. The second group went to Cleveland [Ohio], then to New Orleans where some died of cholera. The rest returned to Ohio. Some later arrivals from Lachen settled at Pleasant Valley, Medina County, Ohio."
Based on this document:
- Johann Reif aged 16 in 1834 applied for permission to emigrate to North America. (This matches Peter Rife's US citizenship application.)
- Johann was born about 1818
- Johann's parents were Anna Elisabeth Hamman and Heinrich Reif of Lachen.
- Heinrich Reif died in or before 1834. (Actual date was 16/Mar/1821.)
Ship Poland Manifest May 19, 1834 New York from Leaving Le Havre, France.
"Anna Maria Reif age 57. [No Johann listed.]"
Based on this document:
- Anna Reif was born about 1777. (Actual date was 23/Mar/1777).
- No Johan listed.