I found out that my Great-Great Grandfather came to United States from Bavaria, Germany.

His name was Nicholas Riott and was born in 1815.

Nicholas immigrated to Herman, Pennsylvania in the 1st wave of immigrationin 1825, when he was 10 years old.

He resided in Pennsylvania and met his wife, Margaret Greilech at age 26.

They owned farm land and were in the primary sector.

They had nine children including my Great Grandfather, Henry Riott.

Margaret died at the age of 71 (1892) and Nicholas died at the age of 86 (1902)

Nicholas Riott

Margaret Greilich

Margaret was born in 1821 in Baden, Germany.

She arrived in Pennsylvania somewhere between 1821-1841, making it between the 1st and 2nd wave of immigration.

She married Nicholas Riott in 1841 in Herman, Pennsylvania

Margaret and Nicholas had a child named Henry Riott, who is my grandmothers grandfather.

He was born in 1862 in Herman, Butler, Pennsylvania.

Henry married Mary Schehl in Herman, Butler, Pennsylvania in 1887.

They had a child in 1888 named Annie Riott which is my great-grandmother.

Annie Riott

Annie was born in 1888 in Herman Butler County, Pennsylvania.

She married Eugene Nicholas Geibel in 1912, at the age of 24.

They resided in Butler, Pennsylvania and had nine children.

My grandmother is the youngest of the nine.

My great-grandfather, Eugene served in WWI

My grandfather’s side

Clinton S. Reibold is my great-grandfather who was born in 1901.

He was born in Forward, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Clinton married Mae Reibold in 1930.

He owned farm land and was in the primary sector.

He had three children, one of them my grandfather, Donald Reibold in 1927.

My Grandfather in flight schoolHe served in World War 2

Clinton Reibold served in WWI in 1917-1918

Registration Card

Fathers side

My grandmothers parents were John McPherson and Ada McPherson.

John McPherson was born in Iowa in 1885 and Adawas born in Boise, Idaho in 1911.

They moved to Boise Idaho and had two children in 1931 and 1934.

My grandmother was born in 1934.

John McPherson and Ada McPherson

John McPherson served in WWI

John McPherson

My grandfather’s Parents

My Great-Grandfather’s name was Harry Benson.

He was born in 1898 in Illinois, USA.

He moved to Seattle, Washington at the age of 19.

At age 22, he married Norma Ryan.

They moved to Glendale, California in 1940 when my grandfather was 7.

In the 1940 census, I found that Harry was a Retail Office Machine salesman making 1,000.00 a month

My Grandparents

Growing up, my grandmother and her siblings were raised very strict and attended the catholic church every Sunday.

She only attended school until eighth grade, which was common. She soon married my grandfather, at age 18. They moved to California after getting married. My grandfather was

a truck driver and she took care of their four children. They hardly could make ends meet when the children were young. They could not afford a stroller or car. She would walk with my

uncle in her arms, while my mom walked beside her helping her carry groceries from the store.

Dinner would be served every night when my grandfather walked in the door.

My mother and uncles would attend Catholic church every Sunday with my grandparents.

Three Generations

Family Traditions

We gather every Christmas Eve night and are able to open two presents for the kids.

Every Christmas and Thanksgiving we eat a traditional meal; Turkey, Ham, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Rolls, and more…

My grandmother uses her family recipe for the stuffing, gravy andcranberry sauce