notes from Centerville Iowegian, April 26, 1939
MRS. ALLERDICE MARKS BIRTHDAY
CENTERVILLE: Mrs. Mary E. Allerdice celebrated her 85th birthday anniversary Monday, April 24, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Blythe, 1210 West Washington. Her birthday dinner was served by her grandchildren at high noon. The dinner included a large birthday cake. She received many presents, among which were cut flowers, potted plants, two boxes of fruit, candy and a piece of money sent by her daughter, Mrs. Kate Parsons of Mankato, Kansas.
Mrs Allerdice has been shut in since one week before Christmas, 1938, and has been confined to her bed most of the time. The last visit she made was at the home of her cousin, Mrs. Elizabeth Boland, in Ottumwa, and her son, Hugh Allerdice, in Ottumwa. Mrs. Allerdice was born on a farm in Jefferson County near Glendale, which is known as the oldest farm in the county. She was Miss Mary E. Rizor before her marriage.
She has one brother, William Rizor of Nashville, Tenn., and one sister, Mrs. Stanza Mickey of Centerville. She married to Alexander Allerdice, April 24, 1874, and to the union eight children were born, five of whom are living. They are Charles Allerdice of Auburn, Washington, William Allerdice of Missouri, Hugh M. Allerdice of Ottumwa, Mrs. Kate Parsons of Mankato, Kansas, and Mrs. James Blythe of Centerville. She has 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Her husband died June 6, 1923, and since that time she has made her home with her children. She has wonderful hearing for one of her age, but her eyes failed during her last illness and she cannot see to read any more. She is a member of the Methodist Church, but has not been able to attend services for many years on account of ill health. She enjoys visiting with her friends and with her children and grandchildren.
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from Centerville Iowegian, Friday, July 9, 1943
MARY E. ALLERDICE, 89, of Centerville, formerly of Mystic and Fairfield, died at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Blythe, 1210 West Washington Street, with who she had lived for 19 years. She had been in failing health for several years, but critically ill only since Friday.
She was a member of the Methodist Church and had been a resident of Appanoose County for 40 years. She was Mary Elizabeth Rizor before her marriage. She was born April 24, 1854 in Jefferson County, near Glendale, the daughter of Peter and Eliza Kimerer Rizor and was of a family of six children. She married May 11, 1871 to Alex Allerdice. They established their home near Fairfield,where she lived for 32 years, at which time she and her husband and family moved to Mystic, where she was for 28 years.
Her husband died June 6, 1924, following his death she went to live with her daughter with who she moved to Centerville 12 years ago. She was preceeded in death by two daughters, one son and one grandchild, two sisters and one brother. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Kate Parsons of Mankato, Kansas, and Mrs. Blythe, three sons, Charles of Auburn, Wash., William of Missouri, and Hugh of Ottumwa; 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, one brother and one sister.
The body was taken to the Ray Swanson funeral home at Mystic. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Christian Church at Mystic, in charge of Mr. Virginia Sherholtz, pastor of the United Bretheren Church of Mystic. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery at Mystic beside her husband.
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RIZOR
from the Book of Names Mass Wethy
It is believed that the Rizors werer Paletines, and came to America fleeing persecution. For several generations the Paletines had endured terrible persecution, their country plundered and ravaged by war. Many left via Rotterdam to England. The Queen of England fed and treated them kindly. She granted them 2100 acres of land in the Colony of New York. Temporary homes were built on this land, called "German Patent." Food and agricultural implements were furnished for the first year.
George and Anna Margaret Rizor came from Ohio to Iowa in 1852. In 1850 census,children, Peter and John, at home. They appear to be the early Rizor settlers in Iowa. On March 11, 1854, George Rizor purchased the cabin built by William bonnifield in 1838. He soldthe property to Peter Rizor in 1855. The Rizor family occupied the cabin for 49 years, selling it in April 1902. Five years later it was donated to the Old Settlers Association, who exhibits it as one of the oldest houses standing in the state of Iowa.
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From: Crumrine's History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
Donegal Township
pages 742-764
Jacob Rizor was a settler in Donegal township before 1787, as his name is found on the assessment-roll of that year. He purchased by verbal contract from Jacob Lefler, the father of his wife, fifty acres of land, to which he did not obtain a legal title during his lifetime. On the 20th of October, 1825, the land was conveyed to Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Rizor, for her use during her life, to go at her death to the sons of Jacob and Elizabeth Rizor, viz.: John, Abraham, Jacob, George, and Henry Rizor. An account of an interview with the last-named son of Jacob Rizor, by a correspondent of the Chronicle, was published by that paper in the fall of 1880, as follows:
"At Dutch Fork there resides an old man, Henry Rizor by name, who it was said could possibly relate something about the Indian ravages in the county. Thither the writer bent his steps, and had the pleasure of meeting a white-haired old man, whose health was quite vigorous until within a year since. He was born at Dutch Fork Feb. 29, 1790, and if he lives until next February he will be ninety-one years old. A year ago he was knocked down and run over by a buggy. He was ruptured, and has since been unable to perform work or go far away from the house. He distinctly recalled the incidents connected with Abraham Rice's block-house, and says at one time two hundred Indians appeared at the fort. Until within a year ago Mr. Rizor rode to Claysville, distance twelve miles, on horseback every Saturday evening, and got on and off the beast without assistance. Up to that time he was also in the habit of walking to Acheson post-office for his mail. The distance is two miles. 'If the sun shines,' said Mr. Rizor, 'I can see to read without spectacles. Until I was hurt I could chop and haul wood with any of them. I could make seventy-five rails a day,--a full day's work.' Mr. Rizor has been married twice, and lives in the old-style log cabin, with the veritable latch-string on the outside of the door."
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Although the following does not actually pertain to any of my RIZOR family, I found it amusing and decided to add it to the collection.
Just a little humor. . .
Reprinted from old newspaper in 1831)
BEWARE OF SWINDLER
I caution the public and females in particular to beware of a certain George RIZER, who absconded from me and left me destitute of support, after being married three months, and took with him about $20 to which he had no right. He is of dark complexion, stout build, talks rough, is lazy, brags much, but does little; there is no doubt he will defraud others if he can. Whoever gives me information of said Rizor shall have six cents and a chew of tobacco reward. /s/ Elizabeth Rizer, March 1831.
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