Richfield
Washington County, Wisconsin, USA

(What you will find here has been extracted from the books History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties published in 1880 and Richfield Remembers The Past published in 1996. It would be well worth the effort to read the entire books as there is much information available therein.)

The survey of Town 9, Range 19 East, the present Township of Richfield, was begun 7 May 1836 and completed by the 15th of May. The first land purchase was made by Samuel Sprivey for 160 acres of land in section 36 on 31 May 1841. It is suspected that the purchase was for speculation purposes rather than settling. The second purchase and first settler was made by John Snyder for 40 acres in section 35 on 6 July that same year. The next purchase was on 14 June 1842 and the year 1843 saw a large influx of settlers. By 1845 the township was generally settled.

The town was incorporated on 21 January 1846 under the name Richfield. The first town meeting was held on 7 April 1846 at the house of Zachariah Fuller. The Board consisted of Balthus Mantz, Chairman with William Coates and Isaac Romig members. Town Treasurer was Zachariah Fuller, Evert Wartz was the first Collector. Joseph Harlacker served as School Commissioner and Lorenz D. Fuller as Assessor.

In early 1850s the railway line was pushed through the town in its northeast sections with a railroad station established in 1855 and located in the Village of Richfield. Two communities began to take shape Richfield in section 12 and Hubertus in sections 15/22. There were a few hamlets which existed for a short time then disappeared: St. Augustine in section 9 and Beechwood Plat in section 25.

The Village of Richfield referred to as a hamlet saw its first settler Philip Laubenheimer, who had emigrated in 1842 from Hesse Darmstadt, settled immediately in what was to become Richfield. His choice of property was along Fond du Lac Trail. He initially built a block house which served as a dwelling house, tavern, and "convenience" store while he maintained a primitive stock of goods such as pins, coffee and sugar. Over time as need arose the building was expanded and became a congregating point for Germans in and traveling through the area. In the early 1850s when the railroad tracks were installed through Richfield. Mr. Laubenheimer donated the land on which the railroad station was erected.

At this time the community was known as the City of Laubenheim. It retained this name until November 1859 when the community became known as Richfield.

Having a railroad station and in particular the availability of people and good arriving and departing, Mr. Laubenheimer found it advantageous to build a mercantile store on the south side of the tracks in 1868 which became very profitable and by 1875 he doubled the size of the building.

Mr. Laubenheimer and Solomon Juneau were intimate friends. Mr. Juneau's friendship with the Indians and his seemingly "chief" status made it easier for Mr. Laubenheimer during the earlier years.

Fifteen years after Mr. Laubenheimer arrived, in 1857, Emanuel Mann an early settler in the Township of Polk started a store which added prosperity of the Village. This mercantile store not only served the local area but the county as a whole. In its heyday it was as large as any in the county. With the bust of the grain trade in 1871, so to did his establishment.

In 1880 as reported in the book The History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties the Village of Richfield had two stores kept by William Laubenheimer, Philip's son, and Henry Pfeiffer, a depot for the sale of Agriculture implements kept by H.J. Lowe who also was a large shipper of grain, and two steam saw mills run by Mr. Reidenbach and Davis Brothers. There were two shipping elevators owned by Laubenheimer and Pfeiffer, a cheese factory was just started, a hotel the "Northwestern" run by Harry Laubenheimer, Philip's second son, a shoemaker, several blacksmiths and butchers and harness makers and a post office. The postmaster was William Laubenheimer.

In 1916 Richfield was said to have 250 residents. Village businesses: Dr. C. Bossard, physician and surgeon; Chester Dickel, livery; Mrs. M. Dickel, saloon and livery; Henry Eisek, auto livery; L.E. Fairden, shoemaker; Carl Falbe, post master; Christ Frey, general merchandise; John Heisdorf, real estate; Joe Holland, saloon; Klippel Brothers (Robert/Hugo/Willie), general merchandise; Fred Klippel, tinsmith; Fred Klippel, carpenter; Oglethorp Klippel, butcher; Otto Klippel, butcher shop; Ed Kratzsch, blacksmith; R.W. Laubenheimer, auto livery; Robert Laubenheimer, hotel and auto livery; Alfred Mauere, garage work; William Meyer, harnessmaker; John Miller, station agent; Jacob Miller, Furniture and Undertaker; Frank Schoenke, horseshoeer. blacksmith; Jacob Schwamb, saloon, Richfield Garage; Peter William Wolf, elevator, lumber yard, grain seed; J. Yogerst, general merchandise;

Richfield Fire Department

In June of 1900 a meeting was held to organize the fire department. Basic equipment was acquired in 1903. In June of 1917 residents gathered to organize the fire department. Ed Schwamb was elected chief, William C. Meyer was elected first assistant and Robert W. Klippel elected as second assistant. In that same year by-laws were established and a committee formed to determine apparatus requirements/acquisitions. The fire house itself was established in 1901.

Richfield State Bank

The State bank of Richfield was organized 6 August 1910. Its organizers were Thomas Hayes, Robert Klippel, John C. Miller, Peter Reichert, Joseph Schmitt, John Schneider, Christ Stuesser, John Stuesser, and Peter W. Wolf. The bank building was constructed and opened for business in January of 1911. Officers were: Adam Ebling, George Ebling, Thomas Hayes, John C. Miller, Peter Reichert, Christ Stuesser, and John Stuesser.