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         HENRY D. RIFENBERG, manager for P. H. Collins’ extensive dry-goods house, of Columbus Junction, was born in Cortland County, N. Y., on the 8th of March, 1847. His parents, Henry Harrison and Mary (Swelland) Rifenberg, were also natives of New York, the father being of German descent, while the mother’s ancestors were from Vermont, and were of an old New England family, relatives of Ethan Allen.

Our subject was reared in his native State, attending school until thirteen years of age, when he was employed in a dry-goods establishment at Marathon, N. Y., as store boy, and was promoted to salesman, continuing in that house seven years, when he went to Syracuse, and there engaged as a salesman for the succeeding two years. From Syracuse he came to Iowa in 1860, and located at Clifton, Louisa County. Later he went into the boot and shoe business in the same town, which he continued two years, and was also connected with his brother-in-law, M. W. Klotz, as manager of his general store from time to time for seven or eight years. He also carried on the insurance business for several years, and in 1880 engaged with J. L. Collins as manager of his dry-goods business, continuing with the house after P. H. Collins became a partner in 1883, and on the division of the business in May, 1888, he continued with the latter gentleman, who took the dry-goods and grocery department as his share of the business. Mr. Rifenberg has been connected more or less with the dry-goods business ever since boyhood, and is an expert in this line. He does all the buying for the house, has general supervision of the business, and is held in high esteem by the proprietor of the store and its customers.

Mr. Rifenberg is a 32d degree Mason, a member of Columbus City Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M., and of Composite Chapter No. 91, R. A. M., both of Columbus Junction; and also of Bethlehem Commandery No. 45, of Washington, Iowa, and St. Paul Consistory, of St. Paul, Minn. He is also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Columbus Junction Lodge No. 365, and is now serving his fifth year as Deputy Grand Master; is a member of the K. of P. Liberty Lodge No. 22, of Columbus Junction, having joined that organization on its removal from Columbus City to its present location. Mr. Rifenberg has taken an active interest in civic societies, and has done good work in promoting the best interests of all those with whom he is associated. In the dry-goods business he is without a peer in the county in his knowledge of the quality of goods and the requirements of the trade in this section.