Harvey H Rinker

RINKER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 09:14:20

Harvey H Rinker has improved two excellent farms in Boone county and is now the owner of 200 acres of rich arable and productive land n section 16 and 19, Beaver township. This is the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift. He had no assistance from his parents and whatever success he ahs achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors. The measure of his industry has been the measure of his prosperity, and therefore is indicated the fact that he is accounted one of the substantial agriculturists of is community. He was born in Virginia August 1, 1866, a son of John and Sarah (Hoover) Rinker, who were also natives of the Old Dominion. The father who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Illinois with his family the there engaged in farming, being identified with agricultural interests in that state until 1895, when he came to Iowa, settling in Boone county, In connection with his son he purchased 240 acres of land on section 16, Beaver township, and to its further development and improvement devoted his remaining days. He enlisted for service with the confederates and was at the front throughout the Civil war. Hones in his opinions and from his convictions he did not deviated form a course which he believed to be right. He died February 3, 1910, at he age of sixty-nine years and is survived by his widow, who is living upon the old home palace at the age f seventy-two years.
Harvey H Rinker spent his youthful days under the parental roof, with the usual advantage of a public school education ad good home training. On attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, and his practical experience in assisting his father now proved of much value to him. He rented land in McLean county, Illinois, which he cultivated for three years, and then came to Boone county, arriving three yeas before his parents. He purchased what became known as the Rinker farm, owned jointly by himself and father, and operated this land on section 16, Beaver township for eighteen years. He then rented the place to his brother and purchased the farm upon which he now reside, comprising 80 acres of land on section 19 Beaver township. He has improved this place wonderfully as well as his other farm and now owns 200 acres of splendidly improved land. He had no financial assistance form his parents but started out in the business world on his own account empty handed and gradually worked his way upward. He has ever been watchful of the details pointing to success, had worked earnestly and persistently and his methods have been of a most practical character. He has studied the questions of crop rotation and understand the best time for planting and the best methods of enriching the soil. He has thus been able to gather good harvests and is now one of the substantial farmer of the community. In addition to tilling his fields he is engaged extensively in stock raising, feeding two carloads of cattle, one carload of sheep and one carload of hogs each years. He is also a stockholder in the Beaver Cooperative Company of Beaver.
On February 11, 1892, Mr Rinker was untied in marriage to Miss Anna L Rogers, a daughter of Lucius and Eunice (Freeman) Rogers, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Illinois. Her father was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted form Illinois with the boys in blue, with whom he served until the close of the hostilities. After the war he began farming and continued the cultivation of a tract of land in Illinois until 1892, when he came to Iowa, settling in Guthrie county, There he carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his days, owing 460 acres of land. He died in September 1913, while his wife is now living in Jefferson, Iowa.
To Mr and Mrs Rinker have been born four children Emmet, Perry, Eunice, and Catherine. The fairly attend the Baptist church, of which both Mr and Mrs Rinker are members. In his political views Mr Rinker is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. He is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and aids in advancing many public interests that have proven of worth to township and county.

1914 Boone County History Book