Manuscripts Southern Illinois History a... Joseph Rickert family papers Finding AidTitle: Joseph Rickert family papers, 1869-1971
ID: 1/6/MSS 144
Primary Creator: Rickert family
Extent: 50.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Arranged in ten series: 1) Biographical Information, 2) Joseph W. Rickert, 3) Correspondence, 4) Business: Records and Correspondence, 5) Organizational Affiliations, 6) Writings, 7) Diaries and Journals, 8) Ziebold Family, 9) Scrapbooks, 10) Memorabilia & Miscellaneous.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1972
Subjects: George Ziebold Milling Company., Rickert, Joseph, 1840-1941., Rickert, Joseph, 1840-1941. - Diaries, Rickert family
Forms of Material: Artifacts., Clippings (information artifacts), Corporation records., Correspondence., Diaries., Ephemera., Fiction., Ledgers (account books), Manuscripts for publication., Records (documents), Rickert, Joseph, 1840-1941. - Correspondencce, Rickert family - Correspondence, Scrapbooks
Languages: English
Joseph W. Rickert (1840-1941), lawyer, banker, politician, teacher, amateur historian, and civic leader, led a long and productive life and during his term in the State Senate was Acting Governor of Illinois for three days in 1891.
In 1864, after graduating with A.B and A.M. degrees, he taught public school in Marion and Monroe counties. While he was teaching, Rickert also studied law under Judge H.K.S. O'Melveny and with the firm of Johnson and Hartzell at Chester, Illinois.
In addition to his law practice, Rickert pursued other business interests and was active in professional organizations. He established and was President of the Waterloo commercial State Bank and held the titles of: President of the Monroe County Bar Association; President of the Monroe County Fire Insurance Company; President of the Wind Storm Insurance Company; and Director of the East St. Louis, Columbia, and Waterloo Railway.
Rickert's activities as a civic leader propelled him into a number of elected political offices including: County Superintendent of Schools, 1869-1873; State Representative, 1874-1876; State's Attorney for Monroe County, 1876-1880; and State Senator, 1888-1892.
In 1873, Joseph married Wilhemina (Minnie) Ziebold, the daughter of a Waterloo miller, Gottlieb Ziebold. The Rickerts had nine children. Four of them figure importantly in the collection. Nelson, (1878-1971) was a St. Louis lawyer and businessman. The interests of Luella (1884-1961), Marie (1894-1971), and Marguerite (1897-1971) added a cosmopolitan element to the family. These daughters wrote poetry, traveled extensively in Europe, especially Switzerland, and were active in national and international organization.
Wilhemina Rickert died in 1900 and Joseph assumed responsibility of raising his children. Joseph Rickert worked at the commercial State Bank of Waterloo as President until the day he died at the age of 101.
George Ziebold Milling Company.
Rickert, Joseph, 1840-1941.
Rickert, Joseph, 1840-1941. - Diaries
Rickert family
Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.
Acquisition Method: In 1972, Morris Library acquired the personal papers and books of the Joseph W. Rickert Family of Waterloo, IL, as part of the settlement of the last surviving member of the family, Marguerite Rickert, Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Preferred Citation: [Item], Joseph Rickert family papers, Special Collections Research Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
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