Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 533.
 
HENRY RICHELDERFER

     a retired farmer of Sherman county, resides two miles northwest of Wasco,
March 8, 1846, he was born at Port Clinton, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. His
father, Nathan, was, also, a native of the Keystone State, as was his mother,
Matilda ( Mengle) Richelderfer, both descendants of old and prominent
Pennsylvania Dutch families. The father was for many years a railway engineer
running on the Philadelphia & Reading road. He died at Port Clinton, in 1870.
The mother died when our subject was one year old.
     At the public schools of Port Clinton he acquired a good business
education, and in the spring of 1865 enlisted in Two Hundred and Fourteenth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel McGibbons, commanding. The company in
which our subject served was commanded by Captain Kauffman.  He participated in
a number of skirmishes but was engaged in no important battles. The greater
portion of his time was passed in Virginia and at Washington, D. C., at which
latter place he was mustered out. He then returned home and engaged in railroad
work which he followed until 1877, as brakeman and conductor, on the
Philadelphia & Reading, Morris & Essex and New York Central lines. In 1877 he
migrated to Kansas where he passed one year engaged in farming, thence going to
the Willamette valley. He came to Sherman county in the fall of 1880. At that
period Eaton and Love were the only settlers living near Mr. Richelderfer. He
took up a homestead and purchased other land. Here he left, for a time, his
family and became a conductor on the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company's
road, nearly three years, at the same time gradually improving his place.
     Our subject was married April 29, 1870, at New York city, to Miss Mary
Evans, born in Berks county, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of James Evans,
also a native of the Keystone State.
     Our subject has one sister, Isabella, wife of Joseph Mengle, of Port
Clinton, Pennsylvania, formerly a railroad man but now retired. Mr. and Mrs.
Richelderfer have five children living; Harry N., at home ; Asa D. and Earl H.,
conducting the farm ; Laura N., wife of W. Robert Foryce, of White Salmon,
Washington ; Emma E., at home. Their parents are both members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.
     The parents of James Evans, father of our subject's wife, were Irish ; his
grandparents English. Mrs. Richelderfer's mother, Annie (Breisch) Evans, was a
native of Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. She died when our
subject's wife was about nine years of age.. The latter's great-grandfatherÑ
father's maternal grandfatherÑGlace, was in the War of the Revolution. James
Evans served in the Civil war, in Captain Mangle's company. He was wounded in
battle. He died in 1874, and is buried at Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
     The farm of our subject comprises two sections which are conducted by his
sons. With the exception of about one hundred acres it is all under cultivation.
He owns a steam threshing outfit. In 1902 he erected a handsome and substantial
two-story, sixteen-room house, including, two bath-rooms, pantry and store-room,
costing about three thousand dollars. It is provided with an excellent water
system piped into the house. The political principles of Mr. Richelderfer are in
line with those of the Republican party. He is a sagacious business man, of
sound judgment and highly esteemed in both social and financial circles.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.