Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-24
FRED RIETBROCK DIES.
Had Done Much for the Village oil
Athens and the County at Large.

O'Clock that morning at the home of
| his daughter, Mrs. w l.. Erbach, in
Athens. The report did not come I'M
expected to those friends in this city
who were familiar with the condition
OF the gentleman.
About three months ago he went to
California for rest from his arduous
labors, but it appears did not get the
rest sought, for he turned his trip into
one of sightseeing, and was travelling
much of the time. Upon his return he
| suffered collapse on the train while
| crossing the mountains and that was
the beginning of the end. is thought
| the light, dry air of the Rockies, at an
altitude of II 900 feet caused the rupture
| of blood vessel in his head. lie be-
| came unconscious and was taken from
the train at Colorado Springs, Col,
and spent few days there until he had
! recovered sufficiently TO continue his
| journey to Milwaukee. For two weeks
| he was treated by physicians IN Mil
| waukee and then went TO the home OF
| his daughter in Athens, for the purpose
of obtaining absolute quiet and rest.
About two weeks ago his entire right
side became paralyzed and from that
time on he became weaker daily. Until
he suffered the paralytic stroke, hopes
were entertained that his robust con-
stitution would eventually triumph,
but such was not to be the case.
The remains will be taken to Mil
waukee tomorrow and the funeral held
Thursday from the family residence.
Mr.. Rietbrock was born in New
Munster, Kenosha county, sixty-seven
years ago. He attended the common
schools of that county and later entered
the University of Michigan and was
graduated from the law department of
that institution in 1865. He then went
to Milwaukee and engaged in the prac-
tice of law. He was married in 1876 to
Miss Helen Peters, who died five years
ago. He is survived by three children,
A. G. Rietbrock and Mrs. w. G. Klann,
of Milwaukee and the daughter men
toned above In the early '70's Mr..
Riet5rock took an active interest in
politics and was elected district at
torney of Milwaukee county on the
democratic ticket. 1t was in 1876 that
he became interested in lands in Mara
thon county and sometimes his firm
owned as much as 100000 acres in this
section.
Among the firms, institutions, etc,
in this county in which he was inter-
ested are the following: The Abbots-
ford & Northeastern railroad; the Riet-
brock Land and Lumber Co.; the
Athens Electric Light and Power Co.;
the Athens Printing Co.; the First Ma
tional bank of Wausau; the Marathon
County Telephone Co.; the Ceres Rol-
Ter Mills Co.; the Athens Brick and Tile
Co.; the Bank of Athens.
MIR. Rietbrock, though resident OF
Milwaukee, seemed like one Of our own
citizens. He was one of the best known
men in the county. Although he en-
ioyed lucrative law practice in Mil
waukee, he spent much of his time in
this county and his face will be one
sadly missed at our county fairs, tor he
took a great interest in Marathon
county's agricultural and dairy in
dustries. His life had always been one
of toll in the business world, for he was
identified with many enterprises.
Nearly thirty years ago the firm of
johnson, Rietbrock q Halsey pur-
chased nearly all of the lands now COM
prising the towns which bear those
names in this county. The lands,
while covered with heavy growth of
timber, were found to be excellent for
farming purposes. The firm employed
a surveyor and timber estimator and
Mr. Rietbrock would accompany the
latter into the woods. One day the |
two sat down on a large rock on the |
bank of Black creek on the present
site of Athens, to eat their dinner.
After they had partaken of their noon
day meal, the surveyor suggested that
that would be an ideal place to estab-
fish village.
Acting upon the suggestion, Mr.
Rietbrock went to Milwaukee and some
time later returned with a band of
Al .ol, 4. 1N1n On 10 nd
Soon village sprung up in the heart
of the wilderness and the Athens of to-
day-the best manufacturing town in
the county outside of Wausau-is the |
result. AS the village grew, so the
surrounding country became settled up
through Mr.. Rietbrock's efforts, and |
there is hardly section of that terri |
tory now but what is not dotted with |
farm houses. 1t is true he profited |
financially by this settlement, but it |
could never be said that he was grasp |
ing, unfair or unreasonable in his |
dealings with settlers. He was quite |
the contrary He took fatherly pride |
in the Villages; he established manu- |
factories and gave employment for |
labor; he built railroad into the town; |
he made it possible for the village to
secure lighting system and many |
other public improvements; he estab- |
lished one of the best appointed stock |
farms in the country and stocked 1t |
with high priced, pure blood cattle and |
in so doing made Athens Mecca for |
stockmen. Some of his herd establish |
ing new worlds records caused stock |
men from all over the United States |
to visit his farm, and his name thus be- |
came known in certain quarters In al |
most every state and territory. These |
cattle were his CHIEF pride and he never |
tired of explaining their merits. AT |
every dairy meeting in the state Mr.. |
Rietbrock could be found present and |
his ideas and advice were always |
sought He was ready speaker and |
in every gathering was called upon for |
an address. His speech was noted for
It's absence of frivolous word decora- |
tions-he came to the subject matter at |
once in easily understood language, |
which almost amounted to bluntnesS.
In a business way MIR. Rietbrock was
sharp shrewd and far sighted. But |
like many other good business men he
had his reverses and ups and downs. |
But when one of these failures was
met, he profited by the words of Lord
Bacon, The mould of a mans fortune |
is in his own hands," and then assid-
uously set to work to get back what he
had lost. He was honorable in his
transactions, and a good name goes a
long ways in bringing success.
In social way he was very COM
panionable man. He was close stu
dent of the worlds affairs aud having
reached that age where mans life is
rounded out with fund of knowledge
and experience, he was gladly well
coined member of any company.
In more ways than one Fred Riet-
brooks efforts greatly benefited this
county, and as the years pass by his life
work will lie the more appreciated.
His mind was still clear and had he