Many of the early settlers and speculators who came to this area to purchase land, came with cash, and this cash deposited with the Rieckhoff Company and in this safe until land could be purchased.

As the financial affairs of the area residents through those early years were not in the best condition, it was not always easy to borrow money when urgently needed.

The Rieckhoff firm filled this need and helped many in the area make it through those early years.

Mr. Rieckhoff was born in Germany and immigrated as a young man to New York where he worked for a large financial concern.

From New York he went to Buffalo, then to Chicago, and Iowa City, where he married, and then went to Toledo, Iowa. In Toledo, he worked with an abstract firm of Struble and Kinne, the latter being a judge of the Iowa Supreme Court. While there he studied law under Judge Kinne and was admitted to the bar. As Mrs. Rieckhoff was afflicted with asthma, her physician advised a change of climate and the family moved to Orange City.

Mr. Rieckhoff was a well proportioned man about six feet tall and of dignified appearance, with keen blue eyes, a firmly set jaw, a clear cut nose and a well groomed long beard. He wore the best-tailored clothes, which became him well. He bought the old Henry Hospers home, "Maple Corners," where the family resided until 1892, when he moved to LeMars after his wife died. William Rieckhoff died in 1894. His son, William F. Rieckhoff took over the business, as well as the residence. William and Alice Rieckhoff’s son, Robert L. Rieckhoff, followed in the business at the same location.

The Rieckhoff’’s were public-spirited men, and were generous with their charities. In 1971, Robert L. Rieckhoff and his brother Lawrence donated the land south of the Post Office for the new library.

This donation was in memory of their mother, Mrs Alice M. Rieckhoff, who served on the library board for many years and as its president for over 20 years. Robert (Bob) Rieckhoff served 30 years on the hospital board retiring in 1989.