REITHER, ANDREW. - One of the old and honored citizens of Virginia, Ill., holding prestige as the pioneer florist of this prosperous community, is Andrew Reither, a man of substance and true worth, who has spent the greater part of his career here and through well-directed effort has met with a full measure of success. His life has been a singularly active one, passed in varied occupations and characterized in each by fidelity to engagements and honorable dealing. Mr. Reither was born March 17, 1846, in Germany and his parents, Andrew and Sophia (Commetdollar) Reither, were natives of Strassburg, Germany. The sailing vessel on which they were passengers lost its bearings and it was six months before it finally reached the harbor of New York, from whence the parents made their way to Beardstown, Ill. Mr. Reither, the father, was engaged in blacksmithing until his death in 1879. The mother survived him ten years. They were the parents of the following children: Andrew; Sophia, who is deceased; john, who is a resident of Beardstown; Phillip; Kate, who became the wife of John Weaver, of Beardstown; Carrie, who is now Mrs. Richard Dennis, of California; and Edward, of Chicago.

After securing his education in the public schools, Andrew Reither began to learn the barber trade, and at the age of nineteen years took up that vocation at Jacksonville. Subsequently he came to Virginia, where he was the proprietor of a tonsorial establishment for fourteen years, and at the end of that period embarked as a florist, erecting the first greenhouses in this place. He is now the owner of one block and six lots in Virginia, with a handsome residence and modern greenhouses, raises a large amount of nursery stock, and conducts the only business of its kind in this section. During his long business career Mr. Reither has built up a substantial reputation for commercial integrity and stability, and his associates have had every reason to place their highest confidence in him. During the winter months he resides in Texas, having a property at Buda, fourteen miles from the city of Austin. Mr. Reither is a Republican, but has not been an office seeker. With his family he attends the Lutheran church.

In February, 1879, Mr. Reither was married to Miss Annie Boyd, who was born at Virginia, Ill., daughter of Capt. Charles and Susan (Carpenter) Boyd, natives of Pennsylvania. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reither; Burt, who is engaged in business with his father; Louis, who died at the age of nine years; George, who died when seven years old; and Clyde, who was five years old at the time of his death.