When John Henry Reigel was born on 28 February 1853, in Cherry Run, Clarion, Pennsylvania, United States, his father, Paul Reigel, was 25 and his mother, Lavina Kifer, was 22. He married Emma Lavina Harkless on 17 July 1877, in Parker, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Wetmore Township, McKean, Pennsylvania, United States in 1900 and Kane, McKean, Pennsylvania, United States for about 10 years. In 1933, at the age of 80, his occupation is listed as oil well driller. He died on 13 October 1933, in Jackson Township, Butler, Pennsylvania, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Wetmore Township, McKean, Pennsylvania, United States.