Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 199.

HERMAN RIECK

     Laboring with hand and brain in an unending conflict with nature, Herman
Rieck has prospered by reason of his patience and industry and his work has
marked a distinct advance in agricultural methods in Marion county, which for
twenty-three years has been the scene of his activities. A native of Germany, he
was born February 20, 1856, in the province of Pomerania, and his parents were
Christian and Wilhelmina (Wolter) Rieck, the former also a native of that
province, while the latter was born near Berlin, in the province of Brandenburg.
In 1872 the father brought his family to the United States and settled in
Minnesota, purchasing a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Winona county,
where he engaged in farming for thirty-two years. He passed away in 1899 and was
long survived by his wife, whose demise occurred in Oregon in 1910. To their
union were born two sons : August, who lives in Minnesota; and Herman.
     The last named attended the public schools of Germany and was sixteen years
of age when the family made the voyage to the new world. He remained, at home
until his marriage and in 1904 came to Oregon, locating in Marion county, where
he purchased a ranch of three hundred and forty acres, situated two miles west
of Shaw, and secured a portion of the old David Craig donation claim. The place
was in a dilapidated condition and for many years the fields had been devoted to
the growing of wheat and oats. Mr. Rieck and his sons enriched the soil with
about five hundred tons of lime, also using other fertilizers, and he now has
one of the most productive farms in the county. He raises large crops of clover,
corn and grain and keeps about fifty Holstein cows, most of which are pure bred,
while at the head of the herd are two registered sires. In 1925 he built a large
barn, in which he placed concrete floors, using wooden planking for the cows to
stand on. He installed iron stanchions, sanitary drinking cups for the cattle
and other improved appliances. The work is expedited by milking machines and the
cream is sold in Salem, while the skimmed milk is fed to the hogs on the farm.
Another important feature of the place is an up-to-date milk house, constructed
of hollow tile and concrete. The milk is carried by trolley to this building and
sanitary and labor-saving devices are in evidence in every part of this model
ranch.  In the operation of his farm Mr. Rieck uses eight horses and he brings
to his pursuits an intelligent, open and liberal mind, keeping not only abreast
of the times but ahead of them.  he has forty-five acres in corn, forty acres in
hay, ninety acres in grain, eleven acres in clover, which he uses for silage,
and a newly seeded field of clover comprising twenty-five acres. The balance of
the land is utilized for pasture and all of the buildings on the property are
modern and substantial.
     In 1886 Mr. Rieck married Miss Helena Gansmer, who was born in Norton,
Minnesota. Her parents, Ludwig and Wilhelmina (Schultz) Gansmer, were natives of
Germany and came to the United States in the '50s. They were residents of
Wisconsin for several years and during that period Mr. Gansmer served in the
Union Army. After the Civil war they went to Minnesota, making the journey in a
covered wagon drawn by oxen, and for many years the father engaged in farming in
that state. After his retirement he moved to Lewiston, Minnesota, and there
passed away in 1926. He had long survived his wife, whose death occurred in
1902. In their family were ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Those
now living are : Anton, who makes his home in Minnesota ; Helena ; Mrs. Louise
Zielesch, of Polk county, Oregon; Mrs. Minnie Heinzelman, who resides in
Montana; Otto, a well known merchant of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Hulda Linden, who
is also residing in Minnesota ; and Mrs. Amanda Riebe, of Marshall, that state.
     Mr. and Mrs. Rieck are the parents of ten children: Paul, the eldest, is a
bachelor and resides at home; Mrs. Rosa Wolfram, lives in Portland and has two
daughters, Rosa and Marie; Mrs. Cora Steinka makes her home in Salem, Oregon,
and her family numbers two children, Irene and Alvin ; Mrs. Hattie Benz is a
resident of Portland and the mother of a son, Earl. The younger children are
Herman Jr., Lena, Arnold, Walter, Freda all at home. Walter and Freda were born
in Oregon and the others are natives of Minnesota. All received a good education
and three of the daughters are pianists, Freda being an exceptionally
accomplished musician. The sons, Herman Jr. and Arnold, are successful breeders
of registered Berkshire hogs, which have been displayed at state fairs
throughout the west, carrying off many blue ribbons. In 1926. they won two
hundred and forty-one ribbons, three silver cups, and nine medals of gold,
silver and bronze at California fairs and in addition received over two thousand
dollars in prizes. They also received prizes in Salt Lake City, Utah.
     Mrs. Rieck is a lover of flowers and has a fine garden. She has also made a
study of the poultry business and is successfully raising turkeys and chickens.
Mr. Rieck advocates good roads and has also furthered the cause of education,
serving for two years on the macleay school board.  He is a broad-minded man,
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of enterprise, and belongs to that class of
citizens who are essential to progress, constituting the strength and the motive
power of every locality in which they are found.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.