HOWARD W. REICHERT

Howard W. Reichert needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he has always resided in Tipton—his native city—his birth having here occurred April 14, 1879, and in the course of years has come to be recognized as one of the leading merchants and financiers of the city. He is a son of the late John H. Reichert, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. His father in the management and control of business affairs became one of the wealthy residents of the city and erected in Tipton one of its finest homes, now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Peters. The family numbered ten children, namely: Lillian, the wife of Dr. R. A. Peters, of Tipton; Clara, who died in infancy; Walter P., of Canton, Illinois; Margaret, the wife of C. Bennett Chesterman, of Sioux City; Rose Anna, the wife of L. S. Maxon, of Tipton; Charles Scott, who died at the age of thirty years; Howard W., of this review; Lina, the wife of Frederick Perkins, of Canton, Illinois; John H., who died in infancy; and Bertha H., living in Tipton.

Of this family Dr. Charles Scott Reichert was the first American dentist to receive a license to practice on the Island of Cuba. He had an examination lasting twenty-three days before he was admitted to practice there, but after a short time spent on the island he returned home. At the time of the Spanish-American war he entered the army as a member of a signal corps, which was disbanded at Des Moines. He then became a private of Company F, Forty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and at Savannah, Georgia, became a bookkeeper for General Fitzhugh Lee. Soon after arriving in Cuba he was taken ill and was brought home. It was after that he was engaged in practice in Cuba. He had studied for one year in Iowa City and two years at the Chicago University and was graduated with honors on the completion of the dental course. He died in Tipton, February 17, 1908.

Howard W. Reichert completed his education in the Tipton high school and following his graduation entered business life as a member of the firm of Reichert & Geller. He spent two years in mastering the business and on the 1st of January, 1900, became his father’s successor in the firm, which conducted an extensive trade in lumber, coal and building materials. In the spring of 1910 he established an automobile business and livery, selling and repairing motor cars. He is also a director of the Cedar County State Bank of Tipton, succeeding to the position upon the death of his father on the 19th of December, 1907. He is a forceful factor in commercial circles and his ready adaptability and enterprise enable him to successfully accomplish whatever he undertakes.

On the 24th of October, 1901, Mr. Reichert was united in marriage to Miss Bertha A. Pfaff, a native of this county and the only child of Peter and Elizabeth (Cox) Pfaff. Her father, who was born in Cedar county, May 10, 1847, passed away in Tipton on the 20th of May, 1909. Her maternal grandparents were W. H. and Caroline (Setford) Cox, who were natives of Indiana but were married in Iowa. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Reichert have one child, Bernice.

They are members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Reichert is serving as deacon, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is one of Tipton’s young but most enterprising business men, resolute and determined, and never fears to advance where favoring opportunity leads the way. He is a prominent representative of a worthy pioneer family and like his father is making for himself a creditable name and gaining a very desirable competence.