Henry Ferdinand Riefle
Encyclopedia
Henry Ferdinand Riefle was a butcher and leading citizen of Baltimore, Maryland.
, Baltimore. Generally it was considered that such tradesmen were intelligent in the management of their affairs, active and enterprising in business, and public-spirited and liberal. Those terms mark the endeavors of Henry Riefle.
Henry was a member of the "Butchers' Association of Baltimore" and was a signer of the resolution "that from May 2nd they would not charge more than twelve and a half cents per pound for beef, and if they were unable to furnish it at that price, they would vacate their stalls." This resolution grew out of the oppressions under which they and the general public suffered from the extortions of forestallers and the monopolist cattle-dealers. In 1832, when they realized their tradesmen were victims of a monopoly, organized the "Butchers' Hide and Tallow Association" -- the object being to salt their own hides and render their own tallow, thus protecting themselves against impositions by controlling their own business. One of the eight directors of the Association was Henry.
In 1839, he petitioned the Mayor of Baltimore regarding the selling of stalls in Lexington Market and in 1853, records show he protested a matter regarding the Elysville Railroad. In 1856, he petitioned against outlaw huckster competition with tax-paying stall owners in city markets. He was also a member of the Butchers' Loan and Annuity Association, Zion Lutheran Church, and was active in real estate transactions.
, in the Black Forest
area of Baden
, German Republic. Henry immigrated from there to Baltimore in 1832. He was the first son, second child of Michael and Carolina Wagner Rufle. Henry's parents were married on May 22, 1808, and between 1812 and 1819, the family name was changed from "Rufle" to "Riefle." The trade of meat cutting extended to both lines of the family, including his father and his grandfather, Johann Rufle, and his mother's father, Ferdinand Wagner.
Henry married Jacobina Rohrbacher (born May 30, 1810, in Weingarten
, Baden, the third child of Johan and Margaretha Rohrbacher) in the Zion Lutheran Church in Baltimore, c. 1834. Jacobina had immigrated to Baltimore in 1832 with her sister and father. Henry and Jacobina lived at Gist Street (now Patterson Park Ave.) by 1840. By then, he also bought a dwelling, stable and slaughterhouse at the S.W. side of Baltimore and Reisterstown Turnpike Road. In 1845, bought a tract of land known as "Newington" for $1,250. In 1885, this property was addressed as 752 Pennsylvania Ave. Henry also acquired a third home likely located at 436 Pennsylvania Avenue, near Wilson Street.
Henry and Jacobina had eight Riefle children: Caroline B., Catherine Elizabeth, Henry Francis, Amelia Jacobina, Henrietta Virginia, George F., Christian Louis, and Caroline Medinger. Their parents are buried in Greenmount Cemetery
.
Occupation & Public Life
Henry F. Riefle sold meat at the No. 1 stall in Lexington MarketLexington Market
Lexington Market is a historic market in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The main market is housed in two large buildings on the north corners of the intersection of Paca and Lexington Streets...
, Baltimore. Generally it was considered that such tradesmen were intelligent in the management of their affairs, active and enterprising in business, and public-spirited and liberal. Those terms mark the endeavors of Henry Riefle.
Henry was a member of the "Butchers' Association of Baltimore" and was a signer of the resolution "that from May 2nd they would not charge more than twelve and a half cents per pound for beef, and if they were unable to furnish it at that price, they would vacate their stalls." This resolution grew out of the oppressions under which they and the general public suffered from the extortions of forestallers and the monopolist cattle-dealers. In 1832, when they realized their tradesmen were victims of a monopoly, organized the "Butchers' Hide and Tallow Association" -- the object being to salt their own hides and render their own tallow, thus protecting themselves against impositions by controlling their own business. One of the eight directors of the Association was Henry.
In 1839, he petitioned the Mayor of Baltimore regarding the selling of stalls in Lexington Market and in 1853, records show he protested a matter regarding the Elysville Railroad. In 1856, he petitioned against outlaw huckster competition with tax-paying stall owners in city markets. He was also a member of the Butchers' Loan and Annuity Association, Zion Lutheran Church, and was active in real estate transactions.
Family life
The Riefle family had its origins in PforzheimPforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
, in the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
area of Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, German Republic. Henry immigrated from there to Baltimore in 1832. He was the first son, second child of Michael and Carolina Wagner Rufle. Henry's parents were married on May 22, 1808, and between 1812 and 1819, the family name was changed from "Rufle" to "Riefle." The trade of meat cutting extended to both lines of the family, including his father and his grandfather, Johann Rufle, and his mother's father, Ferdinand Wagner.
Henry married Jacobina Rohrbacher (born May 30, 1810, in Weingarten
Weingarten (Baden)
Weingarten is a municipality in the district of Karlsruhe in southwestern Germany, situated at the transition from the Kraichgau to the Rhine valley. Its name means vine garden in German...
, Baden, the third child of Johan and Margaretha Rohrbacher) in the Zion Lutheran Church in Baltimore, c. 1834. Jacobina had immigrated to Baltimore in 1832 with her sister and father. Henry and Jacobina lived at Gist Street (now Patterson Park Ave.) by 1840. By then, he also bought a dwelling, stable and slaughterhouse at the S.W. side of Baltimore and Reisterstown Turnpike Road. In 1845, bought a tract of land known as "Newington" for $1,250. In 1885, this property was addressed as 752 Pennsylvania Ave. Henry also acquired a third home likely located at 436 Pennsylvania Avenue, near Wilson Street.
Henry and Jacobina had eight Riefle children: Caroline B., Catherine Elizabeth, Henry Francis, Amelia Jacobina, Henrietta Virginia, George F., Christian Louis, and Caroline Medinger. Their parents are buried in Greenmount Cemetery
Greenmount Cemetery
Green Mount Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established on March 15, 1838, and dedicated on July 13, 1839, it is noted for the large number of historical figures interred in its grounds as well as a large number of prominent Baltimore-area families...
.