Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Rincker, John J 1819 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:17 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

JOHN J. RINCKER is the owner and occupant of one of the fine farms in Crete 
Township. He is the representative of a family of considerable prominence in 
Nassau, Germany. His father, Phillip H. Rincker, was born in Prussia and 
became a mechanic, owning a bell and brass foundry and manufacturing machines, 
that being the business in which his father and grandfather before him had 
been employed. He married Elizabeth Tribnel, who was also born and reared in 
Nassau, and who, like her husband, came of a good German family. Mr. Rincker 
was successful in business, leaving his foundry to one of his sons who is 
continuing it with credit to his worthy sire. The bells that peal in all the 
prominent churches of Germany were cast at the Rincker foundry. Mrs. Rincker 
died when seventy years old, her husband surviving a few years and breathing 
his last at the age of seventy-five. They were piominent members of the German 
Reformed (Presbyterian) Church and were not only highly regarded on account of 
their connection with families of note and their abundant means, but on 
account of their personal character and genuine worth. Their family comprised 
ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Four of the children came to 
America and two of them have since died. Of the entire family but two sons and 
one daughter are now living. The subject of this biographical notice was born 
in Nassau, November 21, 1819, and received a fine education in his native 
tongue, as well as in Latin and French in his native city. He was the oldest 
but one, in the parental family. He learned the trade of a bell caster, 
together with a knowledge of the various departments of the business carried 
on by his father. While yet a single man he determined to make a home in 
America, and taking passage at Havre de Grace on the sailing vessel Batavia, 
he reached the western continent after a tedious voyage of four weeks. Landing 
was made in New York, September 12, 1847, this being before the establishment 
of Castle Garden in that city. Mr. Rincker had many of the experiences known 
to the early emigrant when starting out in this country among entire 
strangers, and was often imposed upon before he arrived at Buffalo. He had a 
ticket to Chicago, but was obliged to stop and earn money to buy his bread, 
having become penniless. He finally met a man who proved a friend in need and 
gave him a supply of eatables and sent him on his way rejoicing. Probably no 
prouder man ever lived than was Mr. Rincker at that time. He soon reached the 
new city of Chicago, which he thought the muddiest place on earth. H. W. 
Rincker, a brother of our subject, had come to this country some time before, 
and upon reaching this State and his brother's home, he of whom we write 
joined him in the establishment of a bell casting foundry, the two continuing 
in partnership four years. During this time they cast the bell weighing eight 
thousand pounds, which, from its position in the courthouse, tolled forth the 
calamity which in 1871, befell the city that has now risen, Phoenix like, from 
her ashes into a more glorious life. The failing health of Mr. Rincker decided 
him to leave the noise of the shop and the city streets, and severing his 
connection with his brother he came to Will County, in the fall of 1851, and 
became a farmer here. He purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres of land 
in Crete Township, the most of which was unbroken, and the greater part of it 
covered with timber. This he cleared and improved, subsequently adding to its 
extent until his estate now comprises two hundred and ninety-five acres, the 
most of which is in an excellent state of improvement. His efforts have made 
of the farm what it is to-day, a most comfortable home, and the source of a 
sufficient income to supply the wants of the family and make provision for 
declining years. One of the most important steps in the life of Mr. Rincker, 
was his marriage, which took place at the home of the bride in Cook County. 
His chosen companion was Miss Helena Pusheck, who was born in Sleceal, 
Prussia, November 2, 1824, and had lived in Illinois from her fifteenth year. 
Her parents, Christian and Hannah R. (Hupsch) Pusheck, had emigrated to the 
United States and settled on a farm twelve miles west of Chicago. There the 
father died when sixty years of age, his wife surviving him fourteen years and 
being seventy-five years old at the time of her death. Both were well-known to 
a large number of the citizens of Cook County, and ranked among the best of 
the Germans who had sought homes in America. They were members of the Lutheran 
Church, and carefully reared their daughters in the principles of right living 
as well as in habits of usefulness in domestic life. To Mr. and Mrs. Rincker 
eleven children have been born, all being yet alive except Ottelia, one of a 
pair of twins, who died when two years old. Charles married Miss Lena Rinne on 
whose father's farm, they are now living; Frank, who is unmarried, lives on a 
farm in Minnesota; August, who married Matilda Letz, operates a farm in 
Watonwan County, Minn.; William, is his father's assistant at home: Emma is 
the wife of Andrew Rademacher, a farmer in Crete Township; Anna married Leno 
Kuessner, a wood engraver whose home is in Chicago; Mary is the wife of 
William Reithel, who occupies a farm in Calhoun County, Iowa; Matilda is the 
wife of Henry Meier, of Watonwan County, Minn.; Helena, is now in Chicago; 
Johanna, is with her parents at home. The entire family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. Rincker is a sturdy Republican. After having been in this 
country twelve years he made a trip to the home of his boyhood, spending about 
two months with his old friends, but very glad to get back to America again at 
the expiration of that time. The various members of the family are manifesting 
the traits of character, kindliness of manner, and business tact and energy 
that make them worthy to bear the name which has descended to them.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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