, Clark County, Wisconsin History & Genealogy Records Rick, George F. (1861 – 19??), Marathon County, Wisconsin Biographical Records, Clark County, Wisconsin History & Genealogy Records

Bio: Rick, George F. (1861 – 19??)

 

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

Surnames: Rick, Clark, Sweeney, Mott, Gebhardt, Kiefer, Gilham, Neibower, Young

 

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

 

Rick, George F. (28 June 1861 – 19??)

 

GEORGE F. RICK, who, for the past six years has been conducting his grocery business at No. 608 Third Street, Wausau, has been a resident here since 1873 and is one of the city's successful self-made men. He was born in the village of Waterloo, Mo., twenty-five miles south of St. Louis, June 28, 1861, and is a son of John and Mary Rick. His father died when he was young and his mother subsequently removed to southern Wisconsin.  

 

It seems a hard fate when a boy of but ten years finds himself entirely dependent upon his own resources, as was the case with George F. Rick, and not every child so situated possesses the determination and confidence in himself that enable him to steadily face the future and work out his own salvation. He came to Wausau in 1873, with a capital of ten cents in his pocket but of courage in his heart and immediately accepted an offer to work for his board in the Clark & Sweeney drug store. Shortly afterward Mr. Sweeney sold out to Mr. Clark and so useful did George F. Rick prove himself that he remained, under more favorable contract, with Mr. Clark, for four years. His next employer was E. M. Mott, who hired the youth to work on his homestead in the woods of Marathon County, for fifteen dollars a month. So far from all that money could buy, Mr. Rick had no occasion to spend his earnings and therefore at the end of eighteen months, when he left Mr. Mott, had a little capital. He came back then to Wausau and went to work for John Gebhardt, in the grocery business, with whom he continued for ten years and afterward was with John Kiefer for two years. He then opened a small store of his own, on the corner of Forest and Grand Avenue, where he remained for two years and then, in partnership with William Gilham, bought out the meat market of Edward Neibower, on Forest Street and they enlarged the meat business so that at one time they were conducting three markets. In 1907 Mr. Rick and Mr. Gilham dissolved partnership and since that time has confined himself to his grocery business at his present location. His story of business success is interesting for all that it tells and of what it indicates and it may be added that he was able to provide a home for his mother soon after he came to Wausau and provided for her as long as she lived.  

 

Mr. Rick married Miss Adele Young, daughter of A. W. Young, who was formerly editor of the Deutsch Pioneer and once postmaster of Wausau. They have three children: George, Norman and Mark. While never an active politician, Mr. Rick has always been a close observer of passing events and has been an interested citizen willing to accept a citizen's responsibilities in upholding the laws. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen, identified with the Wausau body.

 

 


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