John Michael Riebs, Jr., was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 26, 1862.
Beginning at the age of 14 as an office boy he worked in a variety of positions in
the malting business. When he was 18, Riebs was sent out as a hop buyer. He worked
at American Malting Company as manager of its four Milwaukee branches. He served as
vice presidents of Hansen Hop and Malt Company and Berger-Anderson Milling Company.
In 1910 he operated his own grain elevator and 1919, Riebs purchased the Borchert
malting plant and with his sons operated the J. M. Riebs Jr. Company. The company
was known as the Riebs Malting Company, the Riebs Malt Grain Company, and the Riebs
Company. Their business involved brewing, distilling, and production of malt. The
Riebs Company’s main office was located at 741 N. Milwaukee Street, with two grain
elevators in Milwaukee (24th Avenue and S. Pierce Street and 639 S. 29th Street) and
one in Port Washington. In July 1928, the Pierce Street elevator was destroyed by a
fire. In 1971, fire again destroyed the South 29th Street elevator.
John and Amalia Sternberg Riebs (1866-1937) were married in 1886. He had three
children Arthur J. (1888-1957) and Paul E. (1899-1984) and a daughter, Erma Riebs
Adams (1891-1980). John, also known as “Uncle Mike”, passed away in July 1937.
