Fresno County Biographies

John Reichman

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


	John Reichman, cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Fresno, is a 
native of Germany, born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, August 24, 1843. At the age of 
fourteen he came to America and located at New Orleans, where he availed himself 
of the educational advantages offered him by an uncle residing in that city. 
Having a taste for business, he entered Dolbear's Commercial College, which at 
that time was the leading business college of the South. There he received an 
excellent business education and developed a marked adaptation for business 
life. The work of the bookkeeper, the expert accountant and the cashier came 
natural to him when very young, and, as subsequent events show, his work in this 
field has been eminently successful. After his graduation at New Orleans he 
accepted a position as bookkeeper and accountant in that city. In 1865 he 
removed to Houston, Texas, where he had a brother residing, with whom he entered 
business. From 1867 to 1874 he had charge of the offices of a large wholesale 
grocery and cotton factorage business, and in the latter year he was elected by 
the city  council, Secretary and Treasurer of that city, which responsible 
position he held for a period of twelve years, being frequently elected by an 
unanimous vote. Being recognized as an expert accountant of ability, he was 
engaged by the parties in interest to examine into the books and affairs of a 
railroad town site company, the transactions running back for a period of 
twenty-five years, which employed his time until he left for California, in 
1887. This work, involving over a million, was done so satisfactorily that the 
attorneys had him appointed auditor by the court before whom cases for 
settlement were pending, and all parties accepted his figures and settled and 
dismissed the suits. Another illustration of his ability as an expert accountant 
may be briefly cited here. He was selected by the bondsmen of a defaulting tax 
collector who had absconded, to examine the books and tax rolls of his office in 
order to ascertain the amount of the defalcation and fix the liabilities of each 
of three sets of bondsmen, the party having been in office for three terms. He 
found the shortage to be over $40,000; his figures were accepted by the State 
and county and the bondsmen, and payment was promptly made accordingly, - a very 
gratifying result and one that reflected credit on its author. For nine years 
Mr. Reichman was a member of the Board of Education and its secretary, and 
devoted much time and labor to the public-school question, assisting materially 
in the upbuilding of one of the finest school systems and school buildings in 
Texas. He was instrumental in the organization of the Houston Homestead and Loan 
Association and became its secretary and treasurer, which position he held for 
seven years, turning over the books to his successor with a paid up capital of 
$100,000. Being a lover of music he was always connected with some choral 
society, and in 1884 was the president of the Texas Saegerfest. For many years 
he was a director in the Houston Volksfest Association and also served as 
president for two terms. Both of these institutions are social in their 
character, the former being a convocation of all the singing societies of the 
State in some city previously selected, every two years, at which vocal and 
instrumental music of a very high order is produced; the latter arranges and 
manages in May of each year out-door feasts for young and old. These feasts have 
become very popular, having been celebrated for more than twenty years. He is a 
member of the Masonic order, being a Past Master of Holland Lodge, No. 1, the 
oldest Masonic Lodge in the State of Texas. On September 14, 1887, Mr. Reichman 
arrived in Fresno to accept the office of cashier of the Farmers' Bank of 
Fresno, which position he now fills. Mr. Reichman was married in 1867. He and 
his wife are the parents of one child, a very attractive little daughter.
 
Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1891, pp. 232-233.