Person:Johann Reif (10)

Johann Peter Reif/Rife emigrated to America in 1834 from Germany. His last name was spelled Rife on his request for citizenship and Naturalization papers. It was spelled Reif on one tax duplicate and Reiff on the 1860 Census. His surname most likely was originally spelled Reif and he Americanized it when he came over to the US. He went by Peter Rife in Hamilton.

Peter and Elizabeth were married by Rev. Jacob Descombes. The Rev. Descombes was a German Reformed Lutheran and preached at St. Peter's Lutheran Church. The church no longer exists. Later he preached at Hickery Flat Church.

Jean (Rife) Gwaltney remembers her grandfather (Frederick A. Rife, Sr.) saying that Peter Rife wanted his family to be Americans. That is why he came to the United States. He wanted the last name to be spelled Rife (the Americanized spelling). Jean also said that some of Peter's children retained the Reif spelling because of the possibility of inheritance of land back in Germany from ancestors. She said that World War I ruined most of the land. She said that the correct spelling of the name was in question once and that research was done. It turned up the fact that there was paper work filed to change the spelling from Reif to Rife in Butler County, Ohio in 1849.

Jean Gwaltney remembered Fred Rife, Sr. saying that Peter Rife would make a wedding present for each child. It was usually a piece of furniture. Jean Gwaltney some how got hold of one of those pieces of furniture. She gave to her son-in-law. He now has it in Punta Gorda, FL as of 1996.

In 1834 Johann Reif (Peter Rife) emigrated to America as a citizen of Bavaia. After the defeat of Napoleon (1814-15), the Congress of Vienna gave the east-bank lands of the Rhine valley (Palatinate or German PFALZ) to Bavaria. These lands, together with some surrounding territories, again took the name of Palatinate in 1838.