Washington County Biographies



Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project



John A. Reik

John A. Reik, cheese manufacturer, Sec. 8; P. O. Hartford; manufactures about fifty thousand pounds of standard American cheese annually; this business was established in 1874, by Munson Wilson; was afterward operated by his brother, S. J. Wilson, and Hiram Worden, and purchased by the present proprietor in 1878, and has been conducted by him since. Mr. Reik is the son of Michael and Catharine Reik, and was born in the town of Herman, Dodge Co.; was brought up on a farm, and, in 1878, learned his present business. His father, Michael Reik, deceased, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, April 6, 1824; came to America in 1848 and settled in Dodge Co., town of Herman. He was married, Sept. 16, 1851, in Greenfield, Milwaukee Co., to Miss Catherine Steiner, daughter of John Steiner. Mrs. Reik was born in Wittenburg, Germany; they had seven children; the eldest, Christine, is now Mrs. John Schauer, of Iowa; David, John A., Michael, Jacob, Mary and Simon. Mr. Reik continued his residence in Herman until he removed to Hartford. His death occurred May 11, 1878.

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