Today in Wheeling History: September 16--Fidelis Riester, longtime secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company in Wheeling, died (1919).
Fidelis Riester was a longtime secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. Born in Germany in 1848, he immigrated to the United States in 1867, first living in Zanesville, Ohio where he worked as a bookkeeper and dry goods clerk. In 1871, Riester moved to Wheeling and became a traveling salesman for C. Weltey & Brother (later P. Weltey & Co.). On September 1, 1874, he was appointed secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company, a position he held for over 40 years, except for a brief stint as secretary of the Jefferson Insurance Company from 1884-1887.
In addition to his insurance career, Riester managed the Opera House in Wheeling starting in 1878. He was an active member of the Wheeling community, belonging to the Arion Society and serving as its secretary and treasurer. Riester married Mary Welty, daughter of Sebastian Welty, in 1879. He was regarded as a popular, competent citizen of Wheeling. Fidelis Riester remained secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company until his death on September 16, 1919, dedicating over four decades of his life to the company. (https://tinyurl.com/39ykk2xj) (https://tinyurl.com/39ykk2xj)
Fidelis Riester was a longtime secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. Born in Germany in 1848, he immigrated to the United States in 1867, first living in Zanesville, Ohio where he worked as a bookkeeper and dry goods clerk. In 1871, Riester moved to Wheeling and became a traveling salesman for C. Weltey & Brother (later P. Weltey & Co.). On September 1, 1874, he was appointed secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company, a position he held for over 40 years, except for a brief stint as secretary of the Jefferson Insurance Company from 1884-1887.
In addition to his insurance career, Riester managed the Opera House in Wheeling starting in 1878. He was an active member of the Wheeling community, belonging to the Arion Society and serving as its secretary and treasurer. Riester married Mary Welty, daughter of Sebastian Welty, in 1879. He was regarded as a popular, competent citizen of Wheeling. Fidelis Riester remained secretary of the German Fire Insurance Company until his death on September 16, 1919, dedicating over four decades of his life to the company. (https://tinyurl.com/39ykk2xj) (https://tinyurl.com/39ykk2xj)
RSS Feed
