Frederick Rietbrock, one of the founders of the Rietbrock Land and Lumber Company, was born April 6, 1839 in Kenosha County. His parents, Adolph and Christina (Koch) Rietbrock, were natives of Germany and among the earliest settlers in southeastern Wisconsin. Frederick was educated in local public schools, and in 1865 he received an LL.B. degree from the University of Michigan Law School. In that year he began a law practice in Milwaukee, in partnership with C. K. Martin. Martin left the firm in 1870, and was replaced by D. H. Johnson. In 1877, L. W. Halsey joined the firm. Johnson became a circuit judge in 1888 and Frederick Rietbrock and Halsey remained partners until 1900, when Halsey also was appointed to the bench. In that year Adolph C. Rietbrock entered practice with his father.
Frederick Rietbrock maintained a number of business interests in addition to his law practice. In the 1870's he was instrumental in developing the north-central part of the state. With legal partners Johnson and Halsey, Rietbrock purchased land grants and tax titles to thousands of acres, and carried on a land and lumber business, while encouraging settlement of the area. Rietbrock also owned or invested in a number of dairy farms, and developed a type of Guernsey cow noted for high milk and butter fat production.
In 1901 Frederick, with his son Adolph, and sons-in-law, William L. Erbach and William C. Klann, acquired the business interests of Johnson and Halsey, and organized the Rietbrock Land and Lumber Company. Frederick served as president of the company until his death on July 23, 1906, and was succeeded by Adolph.
The company had extensive holdings in the area of Athens, Wisconsin, during the 1920's and 1930's, including partial or complete ownership of the Helendale, Olson, and Lehman Farms; Athens Canning Company (with Erbach as secretary); Athens Electric Light and Power Company; and the Ceres Roller Mills Company. Rietbrock remained in the Milwaukee office, while Erbach superintended the operations at Athens.
Frederick Rietbrock married Helen M. Peters (1837-1901) in Milwaukee on February 4, 1866. They had two daughters, Marianna(?), who married Erbach, and Christina, wife of William Klann, in addition to their son Adolph. Born in 1866, Adolph, like his father, was educated as an attorney. He graduated in 1889 from the University of Wisconsin, attended the University of Michigan Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1891. He practiced law until 1906, when he became president of the company. In 1894 he married Laura Meiswinkel; they were the parents of Dorothy and Frederick J.
