Findagrave, Shaun Creighton: Mariah was the youngest of 9 children of Daniel Mausteller (a.k.a. Masteller) (1796-1867) and his wife Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Shultz) Mausteller (1803-1886). Mariah’s parents resided in Madison Township, Columbia County, PA, although they are buried at Columbia Hill which now lies in Montour County. The Masteller’s were one of the early families to settle in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Mariah’s paternal grandfather Johann Jacob Mostellar (1758-1827), in the early 1790’s, brought the family to Columbia County, from Hempfield Township in Berks County, to what is now Derry Township now part of Montour County, PA (then part of Northumberland County and as of 1813 Columbia County).
Mariah became the first wife of Elias Reichard (1841-1902) who came from another early Columbia County family that also resided in Madison Township, Columbia County. Elias courted Mariah before he was drafted to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. Being the gentleman that he was Elias waited to marry Mariah until after his return, from war, so as to not leave her potentially a young war widow as he had witnessed in other instances in the county. Following his Army discharge, Elias and Mariah were married.
Only one child resulted from Mariah’s marriage to Elias. Daughter Lizzie was named after Mariah’s mother. Mariah wanted more children, but it was not meant to be. At age 47, Mariah suffered an acute appendicitis which became fatal. Elias was truly devastated. It took three years after Mariah’s death for Elias to be convinced by family members to remarry. Even after remarriage, Elias insisted on being buried next to Mariah upon his demise. His wishes were honored.