Harry Alva Risher
Harry Alva Risher, president of the Mingo Junction Board of Trade, a notary public, dealer in insurance and a real estate broker, is one of the representative citizens of the place and has been a resident of Jefferson County, Ohio, for the past forty years. He was born in Brooke County, West Virginia, just across the Ohio River from Steubenville, December 5, 1862, and is a son of John W. and Mary (McCord) Risher.
John W. Risher was born at Steubenville, Ohio, March 20, 1846, and was one of a family of ten children born to Frederick Risher and wife. Frederick Risher was born in 1800 and was quite small when his parents settled in what was then the village of Steubenville. In manhood he became identified with the lumbering interests of Jefferson County and owned a sawmill where now stand the La Belle Iron Works. In later life he was a local Methodist preacher. His death occurred at Steubenville at the age of ninety-two years. John W., his second son, had been early identified with him in the lumber business, but later bought a saw-mill in Brooke County, West Virginia, to which place he moved his family, and they lived there for seven years, settling later at Mingo Junction, where he died in November, 1897. On July 26, 1860, he married Mary McCord, who survives. They had the following children: Robert, Harry Alva, George and Irene, twins, William, Margaret, Grace, Charles and Lottie. Of these, Harry Alva, George. Irene, William and Grace survive, the last named being the wife of Robert Smith.
Harry A. Risher was seven years old when his parents moved back to Steubenville from West Virginia, and in that city he attended school and was twenty years of age when he accompanied his father to Mingo Junction and for several years afterward worked in the lumber business for him. In 1888 he went into business for himself, purchasing the plant of the Hodkinson Lumber Company, at Mingo Junction, which he operated until August, 1907, when he sold to George E. and William Kisher, after which he traveled for a time through the South. He then returned, still having large business interests to look after and still continues to deal in lumber at wholesale, while his insurance agencies require a considerable amount of his time and attention. He represents: the Hanover Fire Insurance Company; the Penn Fire Insurance; the Queen Fire Insurance; the Northern; the Western; the Fidelity and Casualty Company; and the North American Accident and Health Company. He has long been one of Mingo Junction's most progressive and useful citizens. He was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade of which he is president. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Risher was married June 7, 1887, to Miss Estella C. Dean, a daughter of William Dean, who was the founder of Mingo Junction. They have two sons: Robert, who is a graduate of the Mingo high school, is connected with the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company; and William Dean, who is a student in the high school. The family resides in a comfortable and attractive residence on Clifton Avenue, Mingo Junction. Mr. Risher and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 45, F. & A.M.; Union Chapter, No. 15, R. A. M., at Steubenville, and Steubenville Commandery, No. 4, of which he was past eminent commander in 1899.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910