Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Riekenberg, William 1878 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2007, 2:06 am Author: Emma E. Forter WILLIAM RIEKENBERG. William Riekenberg, a successful farmer and stockman of Logan township, Marshall county, was born on the farm where he now lives on July 16, 1878, the son of Frederick and Mary (Pralle) Riekenberg, who were natives of Germany, the father having been born in 1843 and the mother in 1845. They were reared on a farm and received their education in the schools of the land of their birth. In 1864, Frederick Riekenberg, on reaching the age of twenty-one years, left the scenes of his childhood and early life and came to America. On landing in this country he proceeded at once to Illinois, where he worked for six months as a farm hand, when he came to Kansas, being among the early pioneers of this part of the state. He took a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in section 8, Logan township, Marshall county. The land was undeveloped and unimproved and the neighbors were few and far apart. He at once began the task of developing- and improving his new farm, and it was here that he lived for twenty-three years, meeting with much success in general farming and stock raising. He then moved to a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Washington county, that belonged to his wife. Here he continued his agricultural work and interest in stock-raising until 1910, when he retired from the more active duties of life and moved to Lanhan, Kansas, where he died in 1912. Mrs. Riekenberg died in 1887. Mr. Riekenberg was a man who took keen interest in local affairs and had much to do with the substantial development of the county. He served for some years as road boss, and was a member of the school board, two important positions in the early life of any community. Mr. and Mrs. Riekenberg were active members of the German Lutheran church and took much interest in the social life of the community in which they lived and where they were held in the highest regard. They were the parents of seven children as follow: Twins that died in infancy; Fred, a farmer of Washington county; Sophia Helberg, whose husband is a farmer in Oklahoma; William; Henry, a successful farmer of Herkimer township, Marshall county, and Mary, who died at the age of one year. William Riekenberg received his education in the schools of Logan township and grew to manhood on the home farm, and early in life became impressed with the independent life of the farmer. At the age of twenty-two years he rented the home farm of his father, three months later his father-in-law purchased the place and gave it to him and his wife, and here they have continued to make their home. Mr. Riekenberg has met with success in general farming and stock raising. He is interested in the breeding and the raising of high-grade Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, of each of which he raises many head. In 1905 Mr. and Mrs. Riekenberg built a substantial two-story, eight-room house, modern in all respects. The farm has also been improved with a fine large barn and other good buildings that have added to the value of the place. In 1901, William Riekenberg was united in marriage to Sophia Licht, the daughter of William and. Mary (Krueger) Licht, natives of Germany. Mr. Licht was born in. 1834 and his future wife was born seven years later. They received their education in the schools of that country and were reared on a farm. In 1867 they came to the United States. While living in Germany, Mr. Licht engaged in general farming, and on coming to this country, he located on a farm in Illinois, where he remained for two years, after which he came to Kansas, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington county. This farm he developed and improved and here be engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1906, and here the widow now resides. Mr. Licht was for many years recognized as one of the prominent and influential men of Washington county, where he took much interest in all local affairs. He was progressive in all things, believed in substantial public improvements, and was a strong advocate of good roads and the best schools. He and his wife having been educated in the best schools of their native land, they realized and appreciated their value in the growth and development of any district. Mr. Licht was identified with the Republican party, but was not partisan and used bis influence toward the advancement of those principles that tended toward the better development of bis county and state. He and Mrs. Licht were the parents of seven children as follow: Mary Wallenberg, of Washington county, where her husband is a successful farmer; William, on the home place; Henry and Dora, twins, who died in infancy; Elizabeth died at the age of two years; Sophia, the wife of William Riekenberg, and Anna Holle, whose husband is a well-known farmer of Logan township. Sophia (Licht) Riekenberg was born in Washington county, Kansas, on October 26, 1879. She was educated in the local schools and reared on the home farm, where she resided until her marriage. She and William Riekenberg are the parents of three children as follow: Alphons, born on March 8, 1903: Herbert, December 4, 1906, and Ralph, April 21, 1909. They are active members of the Lutheran church and prominent in the cocial life of the township. Mr. Riekenberg is independent in politics and has served for a number of years as a member of the school board. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/riekenbe178nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ksfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb