Sievert Rief, who is now successfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising on Section 36, Rockford Township, belongs to that class of men who owe their prosperity entirely to their capable planning and their untiring diligence in carrying out their plans. He may justly be called a self-made man and deserves all the praise which that term implies.

He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, May 29, 1840, his parents, Sievert and Phoebe (Schrum) Rief, being also natives of Germany, where they died many years ago. In their family were seven children, of whom five brothers came to the United States and three are now living: Sievert; John, a resident of Crescent, Iowa; and Peter, whose home is in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Sievert Rief was reared in his native province, which at that time belonged to Denmark, and in 1862 he served for nine months in the Danish Army during the Danish and Prussian War.

The opportunities of the new world attracted him and with the hope of bettering his financial condition he came to the United States in 1864, arriving in Chicago with but six dollars in his pocket. For nearly a year he worked in a bakery in that city and then came to Pottawattamie County, where he invested his little capital in sixteen acres of land in Hazel Dell Township. Upon that place he built a little shanty and he spent his last cent for an ax, with which he went to work chopping wood for a living. His neighbors were good to him, seeing his willingness to work, and gave him plenty to do. He was soon able to buy an old team and with this he hauled wood to Council Bluffs.

He and his brother Peter, securing a government license, also sold beer for many years. In those days when families were widely scattered and roads were not very good, when one neighbor went to Council Bluffs, the others would send by him for groceries and this led Mr. Rief to the belief that a country store would pay. With the money he received for a load of wood he brought home five dollars worth of groceries. In three days his little stock was sold out. The sale of another load of wood combined with the original five dollars enabled him this time to buy ten dollars' worth of groceries. By the time he again went to the city to purchase goods a neighbor there named Perry Reel had spoken a favorable word for him, so that a credit had been established with the wholesale house of Kirscht & Groneweg in Council Bluffs. This time his stock of groceries amounted to twenty-five dollars, which were unpaid for. Mr. Rief and his wife, however, were so worried about the possibity of sale and the payment for the goods in Council Bluffs that they hesitated about unloading the supplies. However, they decided to do so and the neighbors soon showed their appreciation of a store so convenient. This larger supply of groceries was soon sold out and for twenty-five years Mr. Rief continued to conduct a general store at what is known as Reel's Postoffice. Twenty years ago he erected a two-story frame building, forty-six by sixty feet with additions. The second floor is a large hall used for public gatherings. The building was put up at a cost of six thousand dollars but it could not be built for twice that sum now. A year ago he disposed of the store and his stock and removed to one of his farms. As time has passed he has labored diligently and lived economically, carefully watching his expenditures and as carefully conducting his business affairs with the result that he has from time to time been enabled to make judicious investments in property until he is now the owner of several improved farms, aggregating nine hundred acres, and is today one of the largest landholders of the county. He also owns one thousand two hundred and eighty acres in Nebraska near Crawford devoted to farming and stock-raising. He is now fitting up a home in modern style and intends to retire from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

Mr. Rief has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Lena Witt, who was born in Schleswig-Holstein and died twenty years ago, at the age of forty. By that marriage there were nine children, of whom one is now deceased. The others are; Phoebe, the wife of Lars Jensen, of Boomer Township; Dora, the wife of Charles Olsen, also of Boomer Township; Margaret, the wife of William Southern, who resides in that township; Lena, the wife of Alfred Page living in Boomer Township; Sievert Jr., who is foreman for the telephone company at Council Bluffs; Perry and George, who follow farming in Nebraska; and Johann. For his second wife Mr. Rief chose his cousin, Emma Rief, who was born at Grand Island, Nebraska. She is still living and they have five children, Henry, Mary, Olga, Minnie and Effie, all yet under the parental roof.

Mr. Rief was reared in the Lutheran faith but has not become a member of any church in this country. In politics he is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party nor has he aspired to public office. He was, however, Postmaster at Reel's Post Office for two years before the rural route was established.

His business record seems almost phenomenal when we measure the distance between the starting point and his present position in financial circles. By fair and honest dealing and by carrying a line of goods which the families needed, he soon built up a good business and as the years have passed he has acquired considerable wealth. He has every reason to be proud of his success and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. His life record should serve to prove to others what may be gained if one has determination, energy and strong purpose. His realty interests are now extensive, returning him a very gratifying income, so that he may well retire from active life, knowing that is annual revenue is sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries which go to make life worth living.