Bio: Riethus, William 

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Riethus, Rheude 
 

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) 11 Sept. 1928 
 

William Riethus was born in Hanover, Germany, May 5, 1868, and was brought to this country by his parents when he was six weeks old. The family settled in Milwaukee, where he attended the public schools. After working on a farm near Burlington for three years, he spent three years in the employ of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, working in their Denver, Colorado roundhouse and machine shops. Returning to Milwaukee, he served as a deliveryman for the Pabst Brewing Company until 1900. He then embarked in farming at Veefkind, Clark County, where he was located for five years. Next, he operated a farm two miles west of Mannville, Marathon County, for four years. During the past 14 years he has been located on a farm one mile southeast of Mannville, on the Spencer Road, just outside of the north city limits. 
 

Mr. Riethus was married to Miss Elizabeth Rheude of Milwaukee, by Father Anton Decker, in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Milwaukee, June 7, 1892. Her parents are dead. His father, Henry, died 15 years ago, his mother two years ago. One of their four children is living, Mrs. Charles Dickof of Marshfield. Two daughters died in infancy. Their only son, William, a sergeant of the Second Regiment Band, died at the age of 23 at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, February 26, 1918, from flu-pneumonia while in the service of his country in the World War. 
 

Fraternally, Mr. Riethus has been affiliated with St. Patrick’s Court No. 73, Milwaukee, of the Catholic Order of Foresters for the past 35 years. Politically, he is a Democrat. His hobby is gardening.