ROBERT O. RIZER PAPERS

Robert O'Neill Rizer was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 24, 1837, the son of Charles and Matilda M. Rizer. He attended grammar school in Philadelphia before taking a job with Rowley, Ashburner & Company, a Philadelphia shipping firm. When he was fifteen years old, Rizer moved to Chicago, where he became a bookkeeper and worked in a general store.

In 1859, Rizer superintended a thirty-wagon expedition to Pikes Peak, Colorado. Upon arriving in Denver, Rizer took a job as a general store clerk for Toppan & Company. He resigned this position to enlist as a Union soldier May 16, 1862. Colorado Governor, John Evans, presented Rizer a commission as a 2nd lieutenant of Captain Seymour W. Wagoner's Company K, 2nd Regiment, Colorado Infantry.

Rizer began his military career as a recruiter in Colorado's mining camps. In the spring of 1863, the Colorado 2nd Infantry was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, where it was augmented by troops from Colorado's 3rd Infantry Regiment. On November 20, 1863, the regiment was reorganized to become the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, and Rizer was assigned to be second lieutenant of Company I. He was later promoted to first lieutenant of Company E. In May 1864, Rizer briefly commanded a fort near Lawrence, Kansas. He later served as aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant general under Brigadier General Brown, District of Central Missouri. Rizer received his honorable discharge at Leavenworth, Kansas, September 23, 1865.

With the war's end, Rizer settled in Junction City, Kansas, where he became a bookkeeper for the firm Streeter & Strickler. In 1867 Rizer joined James Streeter to form a bank under the firm name of James Streeter & Company. Rizer served three terms as Junction City mayor. In January 1872, he hosted a dinner for Russian Grand Duke Alexis, who was touring the American West on a grand buffalo hunt with General George A. Custer and William F. Cody. In 1875, Rizer joined John B. Anderson to organize the Davis County Savings Bank, serving as cashier. This firm was liquidated in 1877, but the bank continued operations until 1880, as R. O. Rizer & Company, Bankers.

In addition to three terms as Junction City Mayor, Rizer served two terms as city clerk and two terms as treasurer of Geary County, Kansas. He also served as United States pension claim attorney for many years. Rizer was said to have been personal friends with Major General William S. Harney and also with Kit Carson, whom he once entertained in his home. As Junction City Mayor, Rizer appointed James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok to a brief term as town marshal.

Rizer served as commander of Junction City Post Number 132 of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Rizer married Mary J. Keith, of Denver, Colorado, in 1865 and the couple had ten children. Riser passed away March 1, 1921.