A well spent life characterized by close conformity to high standards of manhood and citizenship has given John Christian Reichert a hold on the regard and friendship of his fellow townsmen such as few men have. Because of his wide acquaintance his life history cannot fail to prove of interest to many of the readers of this volume.
He is a native of Summerhausen, Bavaria, Germany, born March 27, 1835, and his parents, Paul and Anna Rose (Hester) Reichert, were also natives of Bavaria. Bidding adieu to home and native land, in the summer of 1837 they sailed with their family for the United States and in August of that year became residents of Ohio, where their remaining days were passed. The voyage across the Atlantic was a long one of seven weeks in a sailing vessel and they encountered rough weather. The father was a cabinet-maker by trade and instructed his sons in that line of work. Both he and his wife passed away in Stark county, Ohio, when seventy-two years of age. Several of their children died in infancy in Germany, while three of the number reached mature years. All but John Henry were born in the fatherland, namely: Rosanna, who became the wife of Jacob Gretzinger and died in Ohio in 1900; John Christian, of this review; and John Henry, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of Howard, his son.
John Christian Reichert was but two years of age when his parents came to the United States and established a home in Bethlehem, Stark county, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1853, when at the age of eighteen years, he went to Laporte, Indiana, where he worked at the carpenter’s trade, at which he had been employed from the age of thirteen years. On the 13th of April, 1855, he arrived in Tipton, where he has since made his home and here was connected with building operations until 1869. A year after his arrival he was joined by his brother, John Henry Reichert, and they worked together at the carpenter’s trade and later began contracting and building on their own account, being thus identified with the material improvement of the city until 1869, when they turned their attention to the hardware and implement business, under the name of Reichert Brothers. They conducted the store together until the brother’s health became impaired in 1872, at which time he sold his interest to William H. Cobb and the business was then carried on under the firm style of Reichert & Cobb for three years. Mr. Reichertthen purchased the interest of the junior partner and conducted the store alone until February 1, 1891, when he sold out to Hecht & Diehl. Since that time he has lived retired from active business cares, save for the supervision of his invested interests. While engaged in contracting with his brother, they also conducted a lumberyard at Tipton. This was a big undertaking at the time, as there were no railroads here, and they hauled all thelumber by team from Muscatine, Wilton or Clarence. They also had to haul hardware for anumber of years from the same points until a railroad was built through. They had an immense trade both in hardware and lumber and the business was extremely successful. During the second year in the hardware business they sold one hundred and eleven cultivators. That was the first year in which cultivators were introduced into this section of the state. They also introduced many other new farm implements, including planters and hand and horse power machines. It was only a question of how many they could get, for they found a ready sale for all which they bought. Mr. Reichert sold the first check rower to the farmers and also the first hay tedder. The agriculturists of this part of the state would read of a new machine in the Prairie Farmer and then came to Mr. Reichert to order one. He was a director of the Cedar County State Bank for a number of years but since 1891 has been practically retired from business, having acquired a handsome competency that enables him to rest from further labor.
On the 5th of February, 1861, Mr. Reichert was united in marriage to Miss Bertha R. Landrock, who was born in Bethlehem, Stark county, Ohio, January 1, 1843, and there resided until her marriage. Her parents, Charles and Wilhelmina Landrock, were natives of Saxony, Germany, and in 1837 went to Ohio, spending their remaining days in Stark county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reichert were born five children: Ella Rose, who is the widow of Frank W. Adams of Portland, Oregon; Mary Belle, the wife of Henry L. Huber, of Tipton; Ordelia, the wife of J. W. Wright of Tipton; Paul Ernest, living in Bozeman, Montana, and Frederick Carl, who died at the age of nine years.
In his political views Mr. Reichert is an earnest democrat and such is his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him that he was appointed during a republican administration to fill a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace and served for two years. He was also appointed to superintend the building of the present high school and has been a cooperant factor in many movements for the general good. In fact his aid can always be depended upon to further any public project intended for the welfare and upbuilding of the town or county. He is prominent in Masonry, holding membership in Cedar Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M.; Siloam Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M. of Tipton; and the Knights Templar Commandery of Muscatine, Iowa. He has long been a devoted member of the Lutheran church, serving for many years as deacon and elder. His life has been in harmony with his professions, winning him the unqualified regard of all with whom he has come in contact. His life has been so honorable in its purposes, so kindly in its spirit, and so just and generous in its actions, that he enjoys to the fullest degree the friendship and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
