Reichart, Emanuel

REICHART

Posted By: Amy Southall (email)
Date: 3/29/2006 at 20:46:27

Excerpt from the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie Co., IA:
E. REICHART, grain dealer at Neola, was born June 4, 1845, son of Henry and Catharine (GAYTROSS) REICHART. The father was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, the fourth of eight children, was reared to farm life and continued at his parental home until he was twenty-five years of age, and then for fifteen years he was engaged in the butcher's trade. In 1869 he came to Pottawattamie County, settling upon eighty acres on section 16, Norwalk Township, and there he resided until his death, November 4, 1885, when he was about eighty-six years of age. His wife died in September 1871, aged fifty-five years. They had six children, namely: Caroline, Sarah E., the subject of this sketch was the third, George, Samuel, and Jacob.
Mr. REICHART, our subject, was also brought up as a farmer's son. At the age of nineteen, he left home and soon, May 22, 1861, enlisted in Company C, 143rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was taken with a detached force to Harrisburg, that state, and through New York to enforce the draft. They then joined the Army of the Potomac, first under General McClellan and then under General Meade, engaging in the celebrated battle of Gettysburg, the hardest fought battle of the war. Mr. REICHART was captured and held two days. Rejoining his regiment at Fairfax, he was afterward engaged at Culpeper, where he remained in camp some time. He was also at Laurel Hill, where he received a wound in the leg. He was then sent to a hospital in Philadelphia. Two months afterward, he obtained a furlough. Four months after that, he rejoined his regiment at Petersburg. At the surrender of that place, he was detailed with others to convey prisoners to New York, and while on their way between Washington and Baltimore, they received the news of the assassination of President Lincoln, and they were consequently stationed four days at Washington. After delivering the prisoners at New York, they returned to Washington and were placed in review. They then visited White Haven, Pennsylvania, and were taken to Harrisburg, where they were mustered out, June 19, 1865. In 1863, just after the battle of Gettysburg, Mr. REICHART was promoted to Orderly Sergeant.
After visiting home a short time, he landed at Council Bluffs, August 12, in company with four other young men, and for a year worked for Mr. GARNER of Garner Township, for $25 a month. In June 1867, he married and moved upon a farm of 120 acres on sections 16 and 21, Norwalk Township, which he had purchased the preceding year, and here he began life anew. At that time, there were no improvements on the place, and the nearest neighbor was four miles distant. He put up a frame house 14 X 24 feet in dimensions and the necessary farm buildings, fences, etc., and planed a grove. Here he raised grain and stock, dealing in the latter considerably, with success. In 1879 he moved into Neola and engaged in the hardware business, renting his farm; in 1871 he sold the farm and bought the hardware store and three lots, on which he built a residence and where he now resides. The hardware trade he conducted for about eleven years, transacting an annual business of $35,000 to $40,000; and then he exchanged the stock and business for 320 acres of land in Nebraska, with the livestock and grain that was upon it. A year subsequently, he disposed of this and went into the grain business, which he carries on extensively, handling about 265,000 bushels a year, his crib having a capacity of 100,000 bushels.
Mr. REICHART is a thorough Democrat; has held the various offices of Neola and Norwalk townships; was elected the first Justice of the Peace of Norwalk Township, a member of the first Board of Supervisors, a member of the first town council of Neola, the third Mayor of the town, a member of the first Board of Education of the independent district, and for the past eight years has been Township Clerk. During his mayoralty bonds for water works were issued.
Mr. REICHART is a breeder of fine horses, the Norman and Clydesdale; of these he has twenty-seven head. He deals also extensively in purebred Poland-China hogs, and in agricultural implements. In the latter, he is in partnership with his brother. June 19, 1867, Mr. REICHART married Eliza Jane RITTER of Pottawattamie County, who was born in 1850, daughter of Adam and Nancy (WARD) RITTER, natives of Virginia, who came to Iowa in 1837 and were the parents of nine children. Mrs. REICHART, the fifth in the above family, was reared as a farmer's daughter. By this marriage, there have been four children: Laura, deceased; Caroline, who resides at home; and Sarah and Lizzie, deceased.