Samuel Rickert born March 18, 1818 came to Shullsburg in 1841 and commenced mining with great results: His mining activity produced 2 Million lbs. of lead between 1846 and 1850, 10 Million lbs of lead from Stephen's Diggins, 2 million lbs of lead from Rickert Diggins. He built the historic Limestone Block Rickert House located on South Judgment street in 1856 and he owned 560 acres of land which he rented out. He married Ellen Stephens from Canada in 1850 and they had 2 children, Fronie and Belle, who survived. Sadly, five of their children passed away at a young age. It was rumored that the well water may have been contaminated either by lead or their outhouse. The Rickerts are all buried in Shullsburg's Evergreen Cemetery.

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