Walter P. Rhyno

JACKSON, KLINGINSMITH, NUNN, RHYNO

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 14:43:39

Walter P. Rhyno, who is living retired in Winterset, is one of the prominent citizens of that town, where he was for several years engaged in the implement business, and is also the owner of several hundred acres of land, the operation of which he supervises. He is a native of Abingdon, Virginia, born on the 22d of April, 1859, of the marriage of James A. and Harriet E. (Toncray) Rhyno, both of whom were born in Wythe county, Virginia. The paternal grandmother, Evelyn (Nunn) Rhyno, traveled overland across Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and part of Iowa in the early days but, although she lived to an advanced age, never rode in a train or steamboat. She was among the earliest settlers of Iowa and passed away at St. Charles, this county. The father's natal day was the 28th of March, 1828, and he continued to reside in the Old Dominion until he was about seventeen years of age. He learned the printer's trade and after his removal to the Buckeye state he was employed upon the Cincinnati Times-Star, being connected with that paper at the time of the first printers' strike. For several years he worked as a journeyman printer and in that capacity traveled all over the south, learning much of the conditions in that section of the country.

He served in the Mexican war, enlisting at Greencastle, Indiana, in Company A, Second Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After the conclusion of hostilities he emigrated still farther westward, remaining for a short time in St. Joseph, Missouri, and in Des Moines, Iowa, but settling in Madison county, Iowa, about 1850. He entered land in South township upon his Mexican soldier's warrant and continued to own that property until a short time prior to his death. He raised stock extensively, and with his brother, Thomas Jefferson Rhyno, shipped the first carload of stock from the county. For over sixty years he lived upon his homestead and was very successful both as a stock-raiser and as an agriculturist. He purchased other land from time to time and became a large landowner. He died at St. Charles on the 28th of January, 1914, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member. The mother of our subject, who was born in Abingdon, Virginia, on the 9th of February, 1833, passed away in Des Moines on the 9th of June, 1864. She was the mother of three children. Following her demise Mr. Rhyno wedded Miss Lucy Toncray, their marriage being celebrated in 1865. On the 4th of August, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy V. Jackson by whom he had six children.

Walter P. Rhyno attended the Sisters of Charity school in Des Moines and supplemented the education there acquired by taking a two years course at Simpson College of Indianola. He was associated with his father in farming and stock-raising until 1882. From 1884 until 1888 he was deputy county treasurer and upon leaving that office joined Mr. Koehler in the implement business under the firm name of Koehler & Rhyno. That relation was continued for four years and the business of the firm was quite extensive. For some time Mr. Rhyno has lived retired save for looking after his agricultural interests, which are extensive, as he owns six hundred acres of fine land. He has always done all that he could to promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge concerning
the work of the farm.

On the 8th of January, 1889, Mr. Rhyno married Mrs. Eva Klinginsmith, who was born at Norwalk, Warren county, Iowa, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Kneeland) Abrams, the former of whom was born in Indiana in 1829 and the latter in Canada ten years later. Both have passed away, Mr. Abrams' demise occurring in 1871 and that of his wife in 1865. In the early '50s the father settled in Warren county, Iowa, and for many years carried on agricultural pursuits there. He owned considerable land and was a highly esteemed and representative citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Rhyno have two children. Harriet Louise was graduated from the Winterset high school and continued her education in the College of Liberal Arts of the Iowa State University. While in college she was very active in the Young Women's Christian Association and in literary societies, and was honored by election to the presidency of the Hyperion Literary Club. She is now teaching English in the Pomeroy (Iowa) high school. Eva Lenore also took a course in the Iowa State University after graduating from the Winterset high school and, like her sister, was active in various college organizations. She is now a teacher of Latin in the Forest City (Iowa) high school. Mrs. Rhyno is a leader in club circles of Winterset and often entertains her friends in her attractive home.

Mr. Rhyno gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is stanch in its support. Fraternally he is a member of Model Lodge, No. 315, A. F. & A. M., of St. Charles, and he is liberal in his contributions to the support of all of the churches of the town, believing that all are doing work that makes for the good of the community. He is a generous and broad-minded man and anything that savors of pettiness is repugnant to him. His success in business has demonstrated the soundness of his judgment and the keenness of his insight, and the unswerving integrity of his daily life is indubitable proof of the sterling worth of his character.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.