Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 301-302

E. RIEGE, a retired business man of Platteville, Grant county, was born in Hanover, Germany, Jan. 14, 1837, a son of Joachim and Helena RIEGE, who were natives of Germany, and died there when the subject of this biography was a boy. Joachim RIEGE, the father, was a soldier under Blucher in the German army, and took part against Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo, but lost his health and died comparatively young.

In the spring of 1856 Mr. RIEGE, of this sketch, landed in New York City, well prepared as a young business man, and for about a year was employed in a store as clerk; he then formed a partnership with his employer, a Mr. HINNERS, in general merchandising, the co-partnership lasting about three years. In 1860 Mr. RIEGE came to Wisconsin, and in 1862 entered into mercantile trade in Platteville, was prosperous, and in 1885 was able to retire on a competency.

In 1862 Mr. RIEGE married Miss Katie DOSCHER, the amiable daughter of Nicholas and Annie DOSCHER, then prominent in Platteville, who were natives of Hanover, Germany. Mr. DOSCHER came here in 1851, and here he still resides, at the age of eighty-two years; he lost his wife in 1874. They had two children: Katie, Mrs. RIEGE; and Henry C., quite a prominent citizen of Platteville. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. RIEGE eleven children have been born: C. H., who for the last ten years has been engaged in the book, stationery and fine art business in Fresno, Cal., is a member of the Masonic order, and is a scholarly young business man. Lillian, the eldest daughter, born in 1869, was graduated from the State Normal school at Platteville, where she received a fine German classical education; was for five years a teacher of languages in the public schools, of Wisconsin, and is now the wife of Judge R. B. McCOY, of the Monroe county court at Sparta; they have four sons, Malcomb, Bruce E., Robert R. and Harold Doscher. Henrietta, born in 1873, a young lady of scholarly attainments, is at present a member of the home circle; she also graduated from the State Normal, taught two years, and later was graduated from the St. Louis (Mo.) Training School for Nurses. Adolph, born in 1880, was educated at the Normal school, and graduated from the business college of Platteville. Clarence L., born in 1883, was advanced in the languages and music at the State Normal, and is now in the Conservatory of Music at Chicago. Benjamin, born in 1886, is also a student at the State Normal. Nellie E., born in 1888, attends the Platteville high school. Four children of the family died in childhood.

Mr. RIEGE and his wife and children are members of the German Presbyterian Church, in which they are foremost in the work of the congregation, and of which Mr. RIEGE is a trustee and a strong financial supporter. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and for six years has filled the office of town councilman.

Although Mr. RIEGE came to America a poor young man, he came, as has been stated, well prepared educationally for the transaction of mercantile business. He was saving in his early days, had a keen understanding of monetary affairs, was shrewd and judicious in the investment of his surplus funds, and, withal, rigidly honest and strictly attentive to his duties as an employee. As a merchant he was obliging and urbane, and seldom lost a patron after he had an opportunity of once dealing with him. The result is that he now owns a large amount of real estate in the city of Platteville, including several brick business blocks on the main streets, and has been a stockholder and director in the First National Bank since its organization, and also one of the directors of the Electric Light Co., of Platteville.

In 1898 Mr. and Mrs. RIEGE relieved the monotony of their retired life by visiting their son at Fresno, Cal., and there spent the winter, taking in many of the beautiful scenes and natural wonders of the Golden State, but were not sorry to return to the city where so many of their years had been spent, and which Mr. RIEGE had aided so greatly in developing, here to pass their declining days in the peace and comfort so well earned in their days of activity and vigor.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck