Bio of Reich, Herman (b.1846) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Reich, Herman Reich, Herman (page 253), who passed away at his home on
High Street, Plainview, Saturday morning, June 26, 1915, was an early
settler in the county, and one of the best known among the older residents
of the village. He was born in Germany, March 25, 1846, and came to
America with his parents at the age of eight years. The father died in New
York, leaving his wife and eleven children to mourn his loss. Subsequently
the family, of whom Herman was the youngest member, located in Ripon,
Wisconsin, where he attended school. In October, 1868, being then a young
man in his twenty-third year, he came to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and
engaged in agriculture in Greenwood Prairie, Elgin Township. In 1870 he
was married to Anna J. Mathews, and for 43 years he and his wife labored
industriously on their farm two miles west of Plainview, until failing
health induced them to move to town, where they purchased a comfortable
residence. The history of their early privations would make a romantic
story, and in his later years Mr. Reich was sometimes accustomed to
indulge in interesting reminiscences of that early period, during which
his wife was the faithful companion of the joys and sorrows, as well as of
his labors. Those days and years of strenuous toil developed in him the
qualities of thrift, frugality and prudence, with many other fine traits
of character which endeared him to a large circle of friends, who
sometimes gathered around him and enjoyed a visit to this hospitable home.
For some time previous to his death he had been in poor health, yet the
end came as a severe shock to his family and friends. The funeral services
were held at his home Tuesday afternoon, June 29, the Rev. J. R.
Hitchcock, of the M. E. church, to which Mr. Reich and his family
belonged, and the Rev. H. C. Todd, of the Congregational church, a close
friend of the deceased, making appropriated remarks. Representatives of
the Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges were in attendance, and conducted the
services at the grave. A number of relatives, some from distant points,
also attended the funeral. Mr. Reich was one of the charter members of the
Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, and was also interested in the first local
telephone company. For over 30 years he had been a member of the Odd
Fellows, and for over 20 years of the Masonic order, having been one of
the organizers of the Elgin lodge. For some time, also, he was an active
and useful member of the school board. To Mr. and Mrs. Reich were born
eight children: Henry W., Edward H., Albert J., Jennie I., John S., Anna
Mary, Mollie L. and Stephen Mathew. Henry W., who now lives on the old
Reich farm in Elgin Township, married Celia Hostettler, and has two
children, Anna Mary and James Henry. Edward H. is a resident of St. Paul,
Minn. Albert J., now of Oakwood Township, married Emma Stephan, and has
three children, Jennie I., Luella H., and Esther Louise. Jennie I. Is the
wife of Ernest Wedge, and the mother of three children. John S. is
residing at home. Emma Mary is now Mrs. Fred Weikel, of Plainview. Mollie
L. is the wife of Lewis Hostettler, of Elgin, and has two children, Edward
L. and Stella May. Stephen Mathew, who lives in St. Paul, married Carrie
Hanson, and has two children, Herman Stephen and Gilbert Paul. Mrs. Anna
J. Reich, widow of the subject of this sketch, was born at Horsehead,
Chemung County, New York, daughter of Henry E. and Jane E. (Clark)
Mathews, the father being a native of New York State and the mother of
Ireland. Mr. Mathews' business was that of a cigar manufacturer. Mrs.
Mathews died when her daughter Anna J., was 13 years old, and three years
later, in 1868, the latter accompanied her father and the other members of
the family to Greenwood Prairie, Wabasha county, Minnesota. The journey
was made by rail to La Crosse, then up the Mississippi river on the
steamer Keokuk to Winona, and thence overland to their destination. After
residing on his farm for three years, he returned East, but two years
later came back to Wabasha county. Mrs. Reich's marriage has already been
related. Since his death she has continued to reside at their old home in
Plainveiw. Although the eldest of her parents' children, she is the only
one now living. For twelve years she has been a member of the Rebekah
lodge here, in which she has held various offices, serving now as
treasurer; for six years she has belonged to the eastern Star Chapter, and
for ten years has been a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. Her social
activities have made her widely known, and among her friends and
acquaintances she is esteemed as a willing worker and an agreeable
companion, as she has been a faithful wife and kind and loving mother.