Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-11-12
lanes |. RIEHL
PASSES AWAY

James l.. Riehl for over forty year
proprietor of the Montour House died
Thursday morning after long illness
His death removes not only one of oul
oldest and most highly esteemed resid
ents, but man who was known fan
and wide by the great army of com.
mercial travellers and others who per-
iodically visit DanyiIIe.
Mr.. RiehI was seventy -four years OF
age. He was in very poor health for a
year previous to his death. His all
ment was q complication of diseases
which seemed to follow as the result
of severe cold contracted last Jan
uary. The end came at half past s
O'Clock Thursday morning
Mr.. Riehl was reared upon his fath-
er's tarm near Easton. In 1851 he went
into the hotel business. His first hotel
was known as the American House at
Easton. He remained in charge there
but few years when he removed to
Bethlehem, where he opened a hotel
also known as the American House,
which he conducted for some time. He
later removed to Mauch Chunk aud
opened the Mansion Hotel.
In 1860 he came to Danville and pur-
chased the Montour House, a part of
the Montgomery estate, Of MagilI aud
Boyd. He at once remodeled the build
ing, adding many improvements. His
accommodating spirit and attention to
the welfare of the guests made Mr..
Riehl model landlord and under his
management the Montour House soon
came to rank with the best hotels OF
the country.
In 1892 Mr. Riehl retired from ac-
tive life and leased his hotel to his
two nephews, Augustus l.. and Samuel
b. Gresham. At the death of the lat
ter some three years ago Mr. RiehI
again assumed charge Of the we'll
known hostelry and continued as land
lord up to the time Of his demise.
The deceased was united in marriage
with Elizabeth Gresham of Bucks
county, who departed this life in 1887
at the age of fifty-nine. years. Mr..
Riehl died widower and childless.
In 1883 the deceased was made pres |
ident of the Danville Agricultural |
Society. In 1896 when the buildings |
were blown down Mr.. Riehl boing a |
large stockholder, purchased tine |
ground. He worked very hard to keep |
the Montour Agricultural Society up
OH its feet and was one of the last to |
abandon the idea of holding fair at
Mr.. Riehl was a member Of Danville
Lodge, No. 224, F. & a. NJ, Danville
Chapter No. 239, +. a. NJ, and of
Calvary Commando No. 97. X T.
The remains of the late James l..
Riehl, were consigned to their last
resting place by the side of his wife
n the Lutheran cemetery at Sellers
Vile at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon.
The funeral party, which left South
Danville at I'll a. m. Monday, had
wait of nearly two hours at Hazleton
md did not reach SellerSville until
about o'clock
The Masonic escort from this city
was joined at Sellersyile by several
of the lodge at that place
md the Masonic burial rites were OBJ
served at the grave.
The casket was opened at the ceme-
5ery and the remains were viewed by
friends and relatives residing in that
locality, who had assembled to see the
body consigned to the grave. The
pastor of the Lutheran church of Sell
ersville officiated at the grave. y
Iuartette from the same church was
present at the burial and rendered
.hree beautiful selections one as the
body was being removed from the
learse, another as it was lowered into
he grave and one just before leaving
the cemetery.