Charles Rischbieth

Charles Rischbieth (1835 – 5 April 1893) was a leading businessman in the early days of the colony of South Australia.

History

Rischbieth was born in Neustadt, near Hanover, Germany and emigrated to South Australia in 1853 with a number of young German migrants. He worked for a time in the drapery of R. B. Lucas in Hindley Street, but was hampered by his imperfect English. He next worked for McArthur, Kingsborough and Co.,^[1] He and Carl Bolk were admitted into the partnership of G. & R. Wills & Co., and a few years later married E. Wills, a niece of George and Richard Wills. In 1869, he succeeded Robert Alfred Tarlton as managing director of the company. In 1875 Rischbieth retired from the active management of G. & R. Wills & Co., but continued to act as an agent for George Wills, who had long before returned to London.^[2]

Rischbieth was a Director of the Commercial Bank of South Australia at the time of its collapse.

Pastoralist

In 1875 Rischbieth and partners began the development of Coralbignie Station in the Gawler Ranges and Mount Nor'-West near Farina.

Family

He married Elizabeth Susan ??; they lived at "Kolendo", Farrell Street, Glenelg. She died at Acton Vale, Port Elliot. Their children included:

• eldest son Charles Frederick Rischbieth (ca.1866 – 22 February 37) married Nellie Mary Newman on 3 May 1894
• second son Henry Wills Rischbieth married reformer Bessie Mabel Earle (16 October 1874 – 13 March 1967), a niece of William Rounsevell, on 22 October 1898 and moved to Western Australia, where he founded the wool broking firm of Henry Wills & Co.
• son Harold Rischbieth MD FRCS (died 13 November 1943) married Eileen May Beresford
• Mary Louise Rischbieth (2 May 1863 – 1 April 1897)
• second daughter Lillie married George Arthur Jury on 9 September 1890
• youngest daughter Hilda married Leslie Gardner Stock on 21 June 1906

References