F.A. Riedy, Manufacturer of Fine Cigars

Frank A. Riedy was born in Baden, Germany in 1843 to John and Frances (Webber) Riedy. As a young man he came to the United States, and settled in Sandusky, Ohio. On August 12, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company L in the Third Ohio Cavalry. During his military service in the Civil War, he was promoted to Full Farrier, a specialist in equine hoof care. On August 4, 1865, he was mustered out with his company. After working briefly as a blacksmith, Mr. Riedy went on to work in the cigar business in Sandusky for thirty years. The 1880 Sandusky City Directory listed F.A. Riedy as employee of Diehl and Riedy, a cigar manufacturer located at 1025 Market Street; by 1886, he was sole proprieter of this business. He also sold cigars, pipes, and tobacco at his store. In an advertisement which appeared in the 1908 Sandusky City Directory, F.A. Riedy stated that he was “the only pipe doctor in the city.” Smokers came from miles around to have their treasured pipes repaired by Mr. Riedy.  After 1915, when Sandusky changed its street numbering system,  the address of the business became 807 West Market Street.

Frank A. Riedy died on February 20, 1922. He was a member of the McMeens Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and St. Mary’s Church. Mr. Riedy was survived by wife, a son, Leo; two daughters, Mrs. Leo A. Sacksteder and Mrs. Leo A. Butler; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Leo A. Butler, with Father W.C. Zierolf officiating, and burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Mr. Riedy was involved in a business that has a rich history in Sandusky. To read more about the manufacturing of cigars in Sandusky, see this blog post.