Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Reichmann, Joseph 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 3, 2007, 4:15 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

JOSEPH REICHMANN, a retired businessman of Joliet, was born in Donaueshingen,
Baden, Germany, February 13, 1836, a son of Joseph and Mary (Gasler) 
Reichmann. He was one of nine children, three besides himself now living, 
Agatha, Mary and Xavier, all of Germany. His father, who was born and reared
on a farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout all his active life and 
became well-to-do. He died at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died when 
about forty years of age, in 1840. Their son, our subject, received a fair
education and served an apprenticeship to the butcher's trade. When eighteen  
he came to America, sailing on the "Isabella" from Havre to New York, where he 
arrived in the spring of 1854, after a voyage of twenty-one days. The ship on 
which he sailed was the fastest of its day and was the first sailing vessel to 
cross the ocean in seventeen days.

From New York Mr. Reichmann went to Buffalo, where he found work at his trade. 
Through the persuasion of friends he was induced to go to Canada, to secure 
railroad construction work, but after one day's work he quit. Two weeks later 
he went to Cleveland, Ohio. In the fall of the same year he went to Erie, Pa., 
where he worked for a year. In the fall of 1855 he came to Chicago, where he 
was at once given work at his trade. The spring of 1857 found him in Joliet, 
where he worked in another man's employ for six months, and then embarked in 
business for himself, opening a shop on Jefferson street near Scott, with 
Henry Biedermann as partner. In 1860 he sold out to his partner and went to 
Memphis, Tenn., where he worked at his trade for some months. Late in the fall 
of 1860 he went to Pocahontas, Ark., where he spent the winter, returning to 
Memphis in the spring and opening a meat market outside the city limits, which 
was customary at that time. However, the outbreak of the war obliged him to
discontinue business three months later. He was pressed into the Confederate 
home guard service, but after the taking of Memphis and the evacuation of the 
Confederate army, he secured work with a meat contractor who furnished meat to
the army at Vicksburg. He followed the army as far as Grenada, Miss., from 
which point he was sent back to Memphis for more cattle; but not desiring to 
return to the field, he came north and returned to Joliet.

Meeting Jacob Adler, the latter persuaded Mr. Reichmann to go in business with 
him. They opened a store on Joliet street between Jefferson and Washington.  
In 1866, two years later, he built on the corner of Chicago and Jefferson
streets, and engaged in business alone. He was successful and continued the 
business until 1893, when he retired from active business and leased his 
store. At one time he bought and sold considerable real estate. In 1874 he  
built a substantial and handsome residence on South Richards street, and here 
he and his wife have a pleasant home. He has done much for the upbuilding of 
the city and is an excellent citizen. Politically he is a Republican, and in 
religion a Roman Catholic. He is a member of the Joliet Sharpshooters and the 
Joliet Saengerbund.

In 1869 Mr. Reichmann married Miss Anna Koch, who was born in Cologne, 
Germany, in 1843, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Dresler) Koch, her father 
being a wealthy brewer and distiller in Cologne. She came to America in 1868 
with a sister, and after visiting some friends in New York City proceeded to 
Joliet, where she has since made her home. Her sister, Lena, became the wife 
of Hubert Odenthal, who is on the staff of a daily paper in Los Angeles, Cal.
Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reichmann, of whom three 
are living. Anthony, the oldest, is with C. F. Pinneo, in Joliet. Mollie is 
the wife of William Brown, also of Joliet. Albert, a student in the Chicago
College of Pharmacy, has for four years been employed in the drug business 
with A. W. Flexer, of Joliet.

Mr. Reichmann has been a successful man in the business world of Joliet, and 
is recognized as an honorable, upright citizen, whose life has been an example 
to a younger generation.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900


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