Richert, John 1865 – 1950
RICHERT, GITZ, BENNETT, SMITH, HAZEL
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/25/2015 at 16:19:57
JOHN RICHERT.
John Richert, one of the prominent stockmen of Winneshiek county, is the owner of the Evergreen Stock Farm, a fine property of one hundred and sixty acres on section 21, Hesper township, and by his practical methods and untiring industry has surrounded himself with a gratifying measure of prosperity. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine, when that province was a French possession, January 8, 1865, and is a son of Nicholas and Mary (Gitz) Richert, also natives of that province. The family came to America in 1881, settling in the vicinity of Locust, Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for a number of years. He has now retired from active life and he and his wife make their home in West Decorah. In their family were six children: John, of this review; Nicholas and Jacob, both of whom reside in Hesper township; George, a resident of Oklahoma; Mrs. Kate Bennett, also of that state; and Philip, who makes his home in Oregon.
John Richert spent his childhood in Alsace-Lorraine and was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Iowa. For six years thereafter he worked as a farm laborer and for three years and three months of this time never lost a day's work. He saved enough money to rent land and after engaging in farming in this way for eleven years, purchased eighty acres on sections 20 and 21, Hesper township. To this he has since added until the Evergreen Stock Farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. Mr. Richert's attention centers upon his stock-raising interests and he has been remarkably successful in breeding Hereford cattle and Chester White and Poland China hogs. He has exhibited at almost all of the local fairs and in 1912 had several entries in the International Stock Show at Chicago. He belongs to the Hereford Cattle Association of the United States, in which he is also a stockholder, and in this way he keeps in touch with the latest and most scientific methods of breeding.
On the 30th of November, 1889, Mr. Richert was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Smith, who was born in Hesper township, November 17, 1870, a daughter of Walter A. and Samantha (Hazel) Smith, the former a native of England and the latter, of Pennsylvania. Her father has passed away and his widow makes her home with the subject of this review. Mr. and Mrs. Richert are the parents of a son, Lloyd W., who lives at home.
Mr. Richert is a devout member of the Lutheran church and is independent in politics, taking an especial interest in educational affairs. He has done able work as secretary of the school board for the past seven years and has held various other important school offices. For thirty-two years a resident of Winneshiek county, he is recognized as a substantial and representative citizen by those with whom he has long been associated and one who from the beginning of his career has been deeply interested in the material, mental and moral welfare of the community.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Transcriber’s Note: His gravestone shows the year of birth as 1864
Hesper Public cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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