ARNOLD REILING, b 2 Nov 1823

REILING, DOPHEIDE, NIEMANN, HARMEYER, REILY, MURPHY, WEBER, MULLANE, DELANEY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 9/17/2004 at 19:08:12

Arnold Reiling, Mayor of Bellevue, came to this locality when the town over which he now presides was a village of 400 people. He has since been a resident of this county and has watched its growth and development with that warm interest naturally felt by the adopted sons of the Hawkeye State. No small portion of the great West has been settled up and developed by the thrifty German citizens, and to this nationality Mr. Reiling belongs, having been born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Nov. 2, 1823.

The Reiling family came to Iowa in the fall of 1838. They had set out for American in the autumn of 1837, taking passage from the port of Bremen, on a sailing vessel which landed them at the city of New Orleans two months later. In the latter city the family spent the winter, and in the month of March following made their way to Galena, and thence to this county. The father secured a tract of land about four miles north of the present site of Bellevue, which the cabins of the pioneers were few and far between. He battled with the elements of a new soil, endured all the difficulties and privations of life on the frontier, and here spent the remainder of his days, passing away in the year 1859. The mother, after the death of her husband, made her home with her children, and died at the residence of our subject.

To Herman and Catherine (Dopheide) Reiling, there were born six children, of whom there are living only the subject and his sister, Mary, who is the wife of Theodore Niemann, of Bellevue. Arnold received a good education in the schools of his native Province, and was a boy of fifteen years when his parents crossed the Atlantic to make their home in the New World. His school days were then brought to a close, but his natural abilities and habits of thought and observation served in a comparatively short time to make him thoroughly acquainted with the English language and the customs of the American People.

He assisted in the development of the new farm, but after reaching manhood, with the natural desire of youth for change, left the homestead for a period of twelve years, and until the year 1859, our subject was engaged in the mercantile business in Bellevue, after which he constructed seven miles of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Raiload, and drove all the piles of the road from Dubuque to Clinton.

He built, and for about six years was engaged in running the steamer called the "Reiling" one of the Mississippi steamers. Later he became interested in milling at Bellevue, which he has followed more or less for a period of twenty years. He was first connected with the firm of Kilborn & Co., and they operated extensively under the firm name of Kilborn, Reiling & Kelso, controlling all the flour-milling business in the town of Bellevue. After this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Reiling and John Murphy formed a partnership which existed several years. After the death of Mr. Kilborn, the property was divided, and the mill was operated under the firm name of Reiling & Co., but familiarly called the "Jasper Mills." They put out about fifty barrels per day of superior flour. The buildings are well equipped with modern machinery, operated by water power. The main structure is four stories in height, with a solid stone basement and although erected as early as 1843, is still in good condition.

The marriage of Arnold Reiling and Miss Mary Harmeyer, was celebrated at the bride's home in Galena, Feb. 10, 1846. To them have been born nine children, as follows: Kate, born Nov. 14, 1846; Mary, born Dec. 25, 1847; Christina, June 6, 1850; Lizzie, Jan. 6, 1853; Herman, June 20, 1857; Annie Oct. 30, 1859; Lena, Feb. 28, 1861; Regina, May 9, 1863; Bennie, June 21, 1867; Millie, Nov. 7, 1871. Three children are deceased, namely: Katie, died Sept. 7, 1854 aged nine years and ten months; Lizzie (Mrs. Reily) July 23, 1880, aged twenty-five years and six months; Mary (Mrs. Murphy) Nov. 11, 1885, aged 37 years and eleven months. The following children are married: Christina, in Bellevue, to Mr. A. W. Weber, Aug. 9, 1870; Mary to Mr. J.C. Murphy, Oct. 25, 1872; Lizzie, to Mr. G.W. Reily, Jan. 6, 1874; Regina, Nov. 4, 1874, to Mr. G.W. Reily; Lena, in Bellevue, to Mr. William Mullane, May 25, 1885; Herman, Nov. 10, 1886, to Miss Jennie Delaney, of Emporia, Kan.

Mr. Reiling for a number of years represented Bellevue Township in the County Board of Supervisors - indeed was the first man occupying this office after the organization of Tete Des Morts Township. Prior to his removal to Bellevue, after the reorganization of the county board from Township Supervisors to County Commissioners, our subject was twice elected one of the three Commissioners by the entire county. He resigned his office before serving his term. He has also officiated as a member of the Town council, and in March, 1889, was elected to his present office of Mayor.

Among the self-made men of Bellevue Township no one has a more admirable record than Arnold Reiling. His course has been that of an upright, honorable man, leaving to his children a record of which they can never be ashamed. He is a Democrat in political affiliations, and in religious matters a member of the Catholoc Church. To the enterprises tending to develop the county he has given his uniform support. He has led a busy and useful life, during which he has not only secured a competence, but has established himself in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)