In 1832, brothers Lipman Rich (1817-1891) and Moritz Rich (1819-1901) immigrated to the United States from Neustadt, Prussia. They initially settled in Charleston, South Carolina, where they owned dry goods stores on King Street. By 1870, Lipman, his wife, Eva (1815-1886), had moved to St. Matthews, South Carolina with their two children. There, Lipman operated a dry goods store and clothing store through 1880.