John Reich Biography


	This biography appears on page 768 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	A photo of John Reich faces page 768.


	JOHN REICH. One of the best known and most honored citizens of 
the village of Scotland, Bon Homme county, is he whose name initiates 
this paragraph, and he is not only one of the leading merchants of the 
town and postmaster at this point, but he may also claim the 
distinction of being one of its pioneers and founders, since he is in 
point of residence one of the oldest of its citizens, having located in 
the place when its pretentions to the dignity of a village were notable 
principally by their absence. Mr. Reich is a native of Russia, where he 
was born on the 16th of February, 1863, so that it may be seen that he 
is still a young man, though he has the distinction of being a pioneer 
of his home town. He is a son of Simon and Dorothy (Knoepfle) Reich, of 
whose eight children five are still living, namely: Jacob, who is 
associated with our subject in the hardware business; Elizabeth, who is 
the wife of Adam Schaffer, of Yankton county; Catherine, who is the 
wife of Adam Kayser, of Hudson county; John, who is the immediate 
subject of this review, and Christian, who is likewise associated with 
the subject in the hardware business in Scotland.  

	In 1873, when the subject was a lad of ten years, his parents 
emigrated to the United States and located in Bon Homme county, Dakota, 
this being prior to the division of the territory and the organization 
of the two states. He took up a homestead claim of one hundred and 
sixty acres and a timber claim of equal area, and here he continued to 
reside until his death, which occurred in 1879. His widow subsequently 
became the wife of Christopher Wieland, and they still reside in this 
county. Our subject received his educational training in the public 
schools and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age 
of seventeen years, when he began to carve out his independent career 
and depend on his own resources. He came to the village of Scotland, 
where he worked at odd jobs about six months, at the expiration of 
which he entered upon an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade, becoming 
a skilled workman and devoting sixteen years to work at the bench. 
After having been employed as a journeyman for six years he opened a 
small shop of his own and here continued business as a tinner about ten 
years, at the expiration of which he became associated with his brother 
Jacob in opening a hardware store in the village, and they have 
succeeded in building up an excellent trade, having a well equipped 
store and being numbered among the representative business men of the 
town, while their brother Christian has also become a member of the 
firm. In February, 1902, the subject was appointed postmaster of 
Scotland, taking charge of the office on the 28th of the following 
month, and he has made an efficient and popular official, having the 
uniform confidence and esteem of the community and being known as one 
of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of the town. In 
politics he is a stalwart Republican, and he served several terms as a 
member of the village council. He and his wife are consistent and 
valued members of the German Lutheran church.  

	On the 18th of April, 1886, Mr. Reich was united in marriage to 
Miss Otillie Nieland, of Yankton, this state, she having been born in 
Guttenberg, Iowa, and of their four children three are living, Robert 
W. Helen and Della.