The progenitor of the Richtstine family is Jacob Richtstine of Germany. He was born in 1756 and came to the new world about 1775-6 and he died in 1816, Berks County, Pennsylvania. 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 Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania and that he died in Brimfield Township, Peoria County,Ill. on 29 September 1881. He is buried beside his wife in unmarked
graves in the French Grove Cemetery, Millbrook Township, Peoria County, Ill.
John and Susannah Richtstine lived in Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania from their marriage until 1836 for they are recorded in the 1820, 1830 Census of Northumberland County, and also in the Tax list. When Susannah's father David Martz Sr. died in 1822, John Richtstine purchased many items from the vendue or sale and also when Barbara, Susannah's mother, died they also purchased items from the
Estate and are recorded in that Estate. John was paid for some work done on the Estate. This was in 1835-6. 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
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. There 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.