The Detroit times., 1910-11-14
HENRY v. RICKEL
TAKEN BY DEATH
Well.Known Master Ill Only Few
Days-Divided Property Among
Children in 1906.

Henry W. Rickel, founder Of the
firm OF Il. W. Rickel x Co, masters,
died in his home. No 95 Adelaide-st..
about 2 O'Clock, Saturday morning,
after being i'll OF asthma for a week.
He was II years old, being born in
1888. near Cassel Germany. Mr.. Rick
Ell had lived in Detroit over 90 years
and was one of the city's best known
German residents.
When Mr.. Rickel was II years old
he emigrated to- this country. determ
ined to grow up under the Stars and
Stripes. He had only % cents when
he landed in New York and it was
not long until he was absolutely pen
niless, for he was Obliged 10 give up
his quarter for ferry service Nothing
daunted he hunted around and soon
secured work. After while he went
to Buffalo and from there 10 Erie, Pa.
where he worked for a railroad COM
pany. saving wood for the locomo-
tives.
Fifty-five years ago he was attract
ed to Detroit, and he walked the en-
! tire distance form Erie. Here he got
a position as manager Of the Mauch
hotel, which then stood on Cadillac
So Col Mauch. the owner of the ho-
tel, went TO the front in the civil
war and was killed in the first battle
OF Bull Run. For three years after
ward Mr. Rickel managed the hotel
for Col MaHch's widow. The hosiery
was in a rundown contatfen when Nj.
Rickel became manager. but he made
$4,000 for Mrs. LAUGH while he ran
the place for her. Mr. Rickel Went
into the grocery business after quit
ting the Mauch hotel. locating az Rio
pelle.st. and Monroe-ave. In 1876. he
sold out and returned 10 Germany for
a visit
Returning 10 Detroit after a short
absence. he engaged in the malt busi-
ness on ST. Antoi' est buying the
plant owned by a man nam Miller.
In 1877. he built new malt house
and elevator for himself nj Hastings
and 1irton-sts.. the capacity Of which
was so. 600 bushels. He also rented
the Hawley malt house at First and
-Cengfess-sts which bad capacity
OF $4,000 bushels Later he rented
the Duncan malt house at Beaubien
and Champlain-sts and also ran the
Goebel Brewing Co.'S malt house for
himself. From then on his business
grew to large proportions and, in 1898.
he acquired property at Adelaide-st.
and the Grand Trunk tracks. where he
built a malt house with a capacity
of 100000 bushels ne also put nm an
elevator with ~ capacity OF 100000
bushels. These plants he equipped
with the pa,Cmaiic mailing system,
the most improved device on the mar
ket for making malt.
In 1906. Mr. Rickel incorporated his
mailing business and turned over the
entire property TO his children. The
incorporation resulted in the following
officers being placed in charge of the
business: Carl Rickel, president: Geo
Osius. vice-president: Harry Rickel.
treasurer; Armin Rickel. secretary and
superintendent Carl Rickel died in
1908 and Harry Rickel was then made
president and treasurer
This year the company increased IFS
capacity by 10000 and discontinued
the use of the hastings-st plant.
Mr.. Rickel 5 survived by his widow
and the following children. Mrs
Louise Hence OF Iron Mountain,
Mich; Shiloh Rickel. Chicago: Mrs
George 0siHs,- Crosse Pointe. Harry
and Armin Rickel. Detroit. and Mrs.
William Zurich. Minneapolis.
Mr.. Rickel was a prominent mem
her OF the Harmonic society. being
one OF the first 20 join the organiza-
ton. He also belonged 10 the Ger
mania Bowling club. Mr.. Rickel was
able 10 he around on election day
and voted for William b. Thompson
for mayor. On Friday he wrote Mr..
Thompson a letter OF cougratulation.
Funeral services will be held In the
family home ct 10 a m. Tuesday bv
the Rev. Lee s McCollester Of the
Church OF Our Father At the grave.
in Woodlawn cemetery. Carl T..
Schmidt, lifelong friend OF Mr. Rick.
ell, will say a few vords