Clemens and Anna Reiss

Clemens and Anna Reiss were influential immigrants to the Sheboygan area. Both leaders of their family, Clemens and Anna were both highly involved in their community. Clemens is known for establishing the C. Reiss Coal Co., and Anna was involved in the planning of the St. Clement's Church. Both are buried in Calvary Cemetery, along with several of their children.

Clemens Reiss was born November 7, 1835 in Croev, Germany. He immigrated to America at the age of 20, and settled directly in Wisconsin after staying in Chicago for a few months when he fell ill during the Cholera epidemic. He arrived in Sheboygan in 1856 and joined the growing population of German immigrants in the area.

Clemens quickly began working for John Mallmann’s bakery, where he would meet his future bride, John’s niece Anna Marie Mallmann. Anna was born June 10, 1845 in Halsenbach, Germany near the Rhine River, in what was then Prussia. She immigrated with her parents and siblings to Sheboygan as a child. Her father’s siblings also immigrated to the area – including his brother Anton Mallmann, who in 1922, was one of the oldest living pioneers in Sheboygan at age 100.

For a short period of time, Clemens lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but soon returned to Sheboygan in 1858. Upon his return, Clemens started working for the Beekman Cole Flour Mill on the Pigeon River, and two years later, he bought a share in the mill, officially beginning his business ventures in Sheboygan.

In 1862, Clemens bought a local boarding house on Indiana Avenue and 8^th Street, where he and Anna lived after their marriage on May 10, 1864. During this time, he also took a job as a purchaser of wheat and other grains for the Merchants Association, adding to his flour business resume.  

Then in 1880, he changed directions by founding his own coal business. Starting out as the Clemens Reiss and Co., it was incorporated as the C. Reiss Coal Co. in April of 1888. Making it a family business, Clemens’ son Peter served as the Secretary. The coal business quickly took off and by 1902, the capital stock was valued at $800,000, which is $23.5 million in today’s value. The C. Reiss Coal Company was located where South Pier is today (Blue Harbor).

Clemens Reiss died June 1, 1896, and he was remembered for his excellent sense for business and dedication to the coal company and its continued growth and success. He was prominent in local business circles, but focused most of his time on his own business.  What free time he did have, he devoted to Holy Name Church.

Anna Marie Reiss outlived her husband by 20 years, passing away September 27, 1916. Together they had twelve children, many of which are buried in the Reiss family plot here in Calvary Cemetery.

Anna was remembered as being devoted to her children and to church. She and her kids were involved with the church planting of St. Clement’s, which is one of the three churches that oversee this cemetery. The Reiss family provided funding for some of the incredible stained-glass windows in the church. Stop in to see sometime!

At Anna’s funeral, Father Murphy spoke of how noble, honorable, thoughtful, kind and gentle she was. One of her pallbearers happened to be Harry McNeill, who is also discussed in this tour as he was the son of Thomas McNeill. Which provides evidence that the two families had a strong connection.  

The Anna M. Reiss Home for the Aged was built in 1918 in honor of her memory. Located on Superior Avenue between 9^th and 10^th Street, it was part of the old St. Nicholas Hospital campus. Her uncle, Anton Mallmann who lived to be 100, was one of the first residents to stay at the home. The home continued to serve the elderly until the early 1970s when it was closed after construction began for the current St. Nicholas Hospital. 

Weyandt, Janet. 150 years in the making: More than 500 Reiss family members to attend reunion in Sheboygan this weekend, Sheboygan Press. June 25th, 2014. Accessed October 27th, 2023. https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2014/06/25/reiss-family-members-to-attend-reunion-in-sheboygan-this-weekend/11386011/.

"C. Reiss Coal Company Has Fiftieth Anniversary Today." Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) August 4th, 1930. 8.

"Simplicity Marks Opening of Anna M. Reiss Home for Aged." Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) February 14th, 1919.