From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 452, 455

Nicodemus RIESTER, general manager of the plant and furnaces of the 
Wheeling Steel & Iron Company, has reached his present position step 
by step.  He has charge of 400 men, and is considered one of the most 
indispensable employees of the company.
	Mr. Riester is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was born in 
September, 1831.  His parents were John G. and Cordelia (Detting) 
Riester, also natives of Germany.  They reared three children namely:  
Blasisus, one and a half years older than the subject hereof, who 
served in the Civil War under Captain Plankey, and died in September, 
1901; Nicodemus; and Katherine, who has been twice left a widow, and 
who now makes her home with Mr. Riester.  John G. Riester and his 
wife came to this country in 1831, and located in Wheeling in 1832.  
Mr. Riester was a soldier in the Mexican War, and died in 1849, at 
the age of forty-five years, from the effects of diseases contracted 
in the army.  His widow lived to the advanced age of eighty-six 
years.
	Nicodemus Riester found employment in the glass factories at a 
very early age, and in 1852 became a nail feeder in the iron and 
steel works.  In 1863, he was promoted to be manager of the nail 
factory, while Jacob Snyder was manager of the puddlers and mill.  
Besides this position, he also had charge of the coal bank, where 
about 50 men and boys were at work.  Ten years later he assisted in 
breaking the first ground for the blast furnaces, of which George 
Wynn first had charge.  In the Belmont Mills, Martin Mallally is the 
present chief engineer, having succeeded Michael Haley, the first 
engineer.  Mr. Riester is interested in this mill and in the Wheeling 
Steel & Iron Company, of which Mr. Hubbard is president.
	Mr. Riester continued as manager of the nail factory until the 
winter of 1874-75, and was then promoted to be manager of the plant; 
three years later he succeeded C. P. Perin in the management of the 
furnaces.  He was united in marriage with Mary Carney, daughter of 
John Carney, deceased, who was a contractor on the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad.  She was a native of Maryland, and is now sixty-five years 
old.  Twelve children blessed the union, but four of whom are now 
living, as follows:  N. C., who assists in the management of the 
Belmont Mills; Frank, manager of the Furnace at the Top Mill; Susie, 
the wife of Dr. Carroll, of Wheeling, a dentist; and Gertrude, living 
at home, who is prominent in musical circles as a vocalist.  The 
family residence is at No. 2329 Market street, and Mr. Riester has 
been a resident of the sixth ward since 1852.  The family attend the 
Catholic church.  In politics Mr. Riester is a Democrat, and was for 
many years very active in party campaigns.  He served in the militia 
during the Civil War.