Daniel Riem, of Oneco Township, was born in Union County, Pa., Feb. 20, 1806. He is the son of George Riem, whose father was also named George, and who laid out a town in Pennsylvania, which was named after him. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer, and being a first-class mechanic besides, built a number of cider-mills, which were in great request at that time in Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was born in Berks County, Pa., in 1771. In his early days he attended subscription schools, worked on a farm, at carpenter and joiner work, and helped his father in the mill.

Our subject's father lived at home until he married Miss Magdelina Barnhart. Her people were farmers, and also came from Pennsylvania, where her ancestors were old settlers, and narratives about them are told in which brushes with Indians figure, the aborigines being inhabitants of the State at that time. Our subject's father never left Union County. He farmed about twenty acres, and worked at his trade of a miller, but was principally engaged in agricultural pursuits, the family all having been a race of farmers. He being also a man of some mechanical ingenuity, had a carpenter's shop, hired a cabinet-maker, and pursued the business of an undertaker. He died in 1861, at the advanced age of ninety years.

Daniel Riem lived with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, helping his father, and learning the cabinet-maker's trade. All the schooling he obtained was received by attending the subscription schools at intervals of a month or two at a time. After leaving home, he lived in one of his father's houses, getting married and moving his bride into the house at the time of his taking up a residence there. After marriage, he continued to work for his father about two years, managing the latter's business, which he had done for a few years previous to his marriage. The second year after his marriage, he bought property in Lewisburg, Pa., and moved there, engaging in business for himself as a cabinet-maker for two or three years. He then moved on his brother-in-law's farm, where he had the privilege of renting a small home, and kept stock and cows, working meanwhile at the carpenter's trade. He was there about six years, and then moved a mile away on property his father formerly owned, and upon which he was born, and spent the younger days of his manhood.

After about two years, Daniel sold all his possessions, and in the spring of 1844 started for Ohio with one pair of horses and what household goods his wagon would carry. He first located near Medina, Ohio, on his father-in-law's property, and there farmed. About a year and a half later, our subject came to this county, landing in the fall of 1845, and first locating at Walnut Grove, where he lived until the next spring, and then moved on a tract of land which he had pre-empted while living at Walnut Grove. When he moved on his land, his earthly possessions consisted of a pair of horses, a wagon, and $3 in cash. He sold one horse for $50, wherewith to pay for his land, and sold his wagon to raise money with which to fence his property. His first building was a shanty, which would let in the water, and expose him to the elements. The next year a neighbor gave him a log cabin, which they tore down and moved onto his farm. He lived in that log cabin one year, when he moved into a house he had built, and used the log cabin for a shop for four or five years.

During those years, and up to about 1862, Mr. R. worked at cabinet-making and carpentering work, which he had also learned. He also made coffins, and was then chief undertaker in this section. His savings enabled him to buy more land and he had 120 acres when he retired from his useful and active career, which was in 1863. There is a desk which he made last spring, now in his house, which shows his handicraft. Daniel Riem was married, March 12, 1829, to Miss Mary Luther, daughter of John Luther, of Union County, Pa., of German parents. The wife of our subject was born March 10, 1806, and died Jan. 14, 1879.

Mr. Riem is a Democrat, and has filled some of the local offices of his township. He worships at the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He belonged to the German Reformed Church before his marriage, and his wife was a Lutheran. Six children were born of their union: Martin died March 16, 1835, aged four years; Eliza, now Mrs. William Potts, was born Jan. 2, 1834, and resides in this county; Sarah, Mrs. James Trotter, was born June 25, 1836, and lives in Missouri; William, born April 14, 1839, died March 15, 1858; James, born July 23, 1841, died March 23, 1864, and George F., born Feb. 26, 1843, lived in Orangeville.

In 1861 James enlisted in the army, serving about three years in Co. A, 46th Ill. Vol. Inf., of which company he was Corporal. The battles in which he participated were Ft. Donelson, Shiloh and Natchez. At the siege of Vicksburg he was taken prisoner, and contracted a cold, which terminated in consumption, and caused his death. He was in several skirmishes after the siege of Vicksburg, and had re-enlisted as a soldier after his discharge at the hospital, but the seeds of disease had undermined his constitution, and it was not long before he died.

George F. was married, Dec. 21, 1870, to Miss Clara E. Cross, whose people were from Otsego County, N. Y., and who originally came from Scotland and Ireland. George F. has five children, all living at home: Mary Esther, born July 27, 1873; George B., Sept. 5, 1882; and Henry, May 18, 1884. George F. was a Republican during Lincoln's administration, but ever since has been a Democrat.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 588