Henry W. Hinrichs Biography


	This biography appears on pages 148-151 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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			HENRY W. HINRICHS.  

	Henry W. Hinrichs is a banker occupying an important place in the 
financial circles of Rapid City, and is connected with a number of the 
leading enterprises in the Black Hills region. His birth occurred in 
Charles City, Iowa, May 19, 1874. His father, William Hinrichs, was a 
native of Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1867. Although 
a miller by trade, he engaged in farming after coming to the United 
States, purchasing land near Rockford, Iowa. In 1884 he removed to 
Dakota territory with his family and settled upon a homestead near 
Kimball. He became one of the most prosperous men of his community and 
was particularly interested in the cattle business, doing much to 
demonstrate the adaptability of South Dakota lands to profitable stock-
raising. In many ways he contributed to the advancement of agricultural 
interests in his locality, but a number of years ago he retired from 
active life and now resides at Albany, Oregon. His wife was in her 
maidenhood Miss Minnie Friesmann, was also born in Germany and was a 
passenger on the same vessel in which Mr. Hinrichs crossed the Atlantic 
to America, their acquaintance beginning upon that voyage.  

	Henry W. Hinrichs is the oldest in a family of eight children and 
received his education in the country schools and in the State 
Agricultural College at Brookings. At the age of seventeen years he was 
placed in the Kimball State Bank, where he worked for a year and a half 
for his board. He next served for a similar period as deputy postmaster 
at Chamberlain, South Dakota, and then spent a year in special study at 
the State Agricultural College at Brookings. A part of the following 
year was devoted to work upon the home farm, but in the spring of 1897 
he returned to the Kimball State Bank, accepting a position as 
bookkeeper at thirty dollars per month. He also bought an interest in 
the institution and after three years purchased the stock of W. H. 
Wyant, who had served as cashier, and was himself appointed to that 
position. He remained with that bank until January, 1904, and then 
removed to Chamberlain, purchasing a half interest in the Chamberlain 
State Bank and becoming its cashier. A short time afterward he 
organized the First National Bank of White Lake, South Dakota, and was 
chosen its president. Subsequently he was made president of the Kimball 
State Bank. In addition to the concerns already mentioned he organized 
the Chamberlain Wholesale Grocery Company and the Farmers State Bank of 
Puckwana, South Dakota, and became one of the owners of the Bank of 
Bijou Hills, South Dakota. In 1907 he disposed of his interests in 
Chamberlain and removed to Rapid City, where soon afterward he 
organized the Security Savings Bank and erected the Security Savings 
Bank building, being the majority owner in both. Subsequently he sold 
part of his holdings, but still retains the vice presidency of the 
bank. He was one of the organizers of the Lamphere-Hinrichs Lumber 
Company, which was later known as the Warren-Lamb Lumber Company, but 
in 1912 he disposed of his interests in that concern. He is at present 
one of the owners and treasurer of the Dakota Plaster Company, which 
has its works at Black Hawk, South Dakota, and he was one of those who 
organized the Midwest Coal & Lumber Company, of which he is still one 
of the chief owners and also the president. He is responsible for the 
erection of the new buildings of the Kimball State Bank and the First 
National Bank of White Lake, two of the finest structures of the kind 
in the state. He has invested quite heavily in farm lands and is much 
interested in stock-raising, and particularly in the breeding of 
blooded shorthorn cattle.  

	Mr. Hinrichs was married on the 25th of September, 1901, to Miss 
Kate M. Brchan, a daughter of Thomas Brchan, whose farm adjoins the 
Hinrichs homestead. Four children have been born to this union, namely: 
Floyd, Grace Anna, Frederick William and Ada Louise.  

	Mr. Hinrichs is quite prominent in the counsels of the democratic 
party and has been a candidate upon that ticket for county treasurer 
and also for state senator. He realizes the great importance of an 
adequate system of public schools and as a member of the Rapid City 
school board has for several years done much to maintain the schools of 
that city at a high standard. His religious faith is indicated by his 
membership in the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. 
Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Yankton 
Consistory, No. 1, and is also a Woodman. His initiative, executive 
ability and sound judgment as to financial matters have been of great 
value to the Black Hills country, as he has been instrumental in 
founding a number of banks and industrial concerns that have aided 
materially in the development of that part of the state. He has also 
contributed to the general welfare along other lines, as he is a man of 
many interests and of broad-minded views and is ever ready to aid in 
the accomplishment of any worthy public work.