Robert Franklin Rinker & Julia Ann Brinkley

Centerville Iowegian - 1 September 1911

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R. F. Rinker Died Thursday Evening

Funeral Will Be Sunday With Burial at Seymour

Well Known Citizen of the County

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One of Appanoose county's best known and most sturdy citizens passed away about 5 o'clock Thursday evening, Aug. 31, 1911, when Robert F. Rinker succumbed to an illness of considerable duration. He has been in poor health for about two years with kidney trouble, hardening of the arteries and other complications. While death was not unexpected at any time his last attack came on but a day or two before the end. He was conscious much of the time the last 24 hours. His death was at the home, 544 N. Main, the members of the family present being his wife, son Purley and daughter Nellie.

Robert F. Rinker was born Sept. 10, 1839 in Lawrence county, Ind. When 9 years old his parents moved to Farmington, Iowa and to Lincoln twp., Appanoose county, when he was 14. His patriotic spirit led him to enlist in the war, he going into Co. B, 6th Kansas cavalry, when no Iowa regiment was available at the time. With him were two brothers, Joe and O. C., the former of whom as killed and the latter lives at Milton, Oregon. He also leaves a brother, W. T. Rinker, of Unionville, Mo., and three sisters, Mrs. Emily Atherton, Spokane, Wash; Mrs. Elizabeth Frost and Mrs. Cal Cluver, Lewiston, Mont. He was married to Miss Julia Brinkley at Linneus, Mo., April 1, 1866. They immediately located on a farm he bought a half mile from the home place in Lincoln township, which consists of 270 acres owned by him at the time of his death. Ten children were born to them, W. J., Linneus, Mo; John E., Cripple Creek, Colo; Thomas M., Ashland, Kan; C. H., Anthon, Ia; Robert F. Jr., New Rockford, N. Dak; George E., Oto, Ia; Mary R., deceased when 16 years old; Purley, Leola and Nellie at home.

Mr. Rinker was a member of the Masonic lodge, the G.A.R. and of Methodist inclination in church affiliation, tho he did not hold membership in same. He was a man of striking personality and vigorous activity. He was an ardent republican, taking an active part in party councils and conventions, tho never a candidate for office himself, except as he was called on to fill various positions of responsibility in his township and school affairs. He was the head of a splendid family, who are now occupying positions of trust and usefulness and making careers for themselves. He was the best kind of a neighbor, and the qualities of his citizenship were such that any community would have been fortunate to have had his example and counsel.

On his health failing he moved to Centerville in August, 1910. Here many friends took an interest in his health and hoped that relief from farm duties would restore him, but such was not to be. He came to the end of his days in the esteem of his fellow men, and will be mourned by a large number of acquaintances who appreciated his worth as a man.

Funeral Services

Brief funeral services will be held at the home here at 10:45 Sunday morning, after which the body will be taken by train to Seymour and services will be held there in the Methodist church at 1:30 and burial in the Seymour cemetery.

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From an Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

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Called by Death

Mrs. Julia A. Rinker, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Brinkley, was born on the 4th day of September, 1845 in Fayette county, Ohio, and passed away at her residence in Centerville, Iowa, on the 11th day of October, 1929.

While Mrs. Rinker was in her infancy her parents moved to Lee county, Iowa, near the town of Charleston, where they lived for eight years. The family then came to Appanoose county, Iowa, seventy-six years ago, locating about one mile west of Numa, Iowa, on what is now known as the Francis Leek farm, moving later to what is now known as the McElvane farm west of Numa, Iowa and living there fore four years, from whence the family moved to Linn county, Mo. Mrs. Rinker united with the Methodist church in this vicinity, was a teacher in the public schools, and at the age of twenty years, in 1865, was united in marriage with Robert F. Rinker, who had just returned from four years of service in the civil war.

They located on a farm three miles west of Numa, Iowa, and lived there until 1910, when on account of her husband's illness they moved to Centerville, Iowa. As a raesult of their union, ten children were born. W. J.; Rinker, of Linneus, Mo., John E. Rinker of Denver, Colo., T. M. Rinker, Ashland, Kan., Robert F. Rinker, New Rockford N.D., George E. Rinker, Oto, Iowa, Mary Rinker, Purley Rinker of Centerville; Leola Rinker of Ames, Iowa, and Nellie Rinker Watts, of Waggoner, Okla. Mrs. Rinker is preceded in death by her husband, Robert F. Rinker, who died in 1911 and by Mary Rinker, who died at the age of 15 years, and C. H. Rinker, who died at the age of 48 years.

Mrs. Rinker's death was due to a long continued case of heart trouble, or gradual thinning of the heart walls. She had a bright and active mind, and to the very last day of her life remained an active interest in all the affairs of life, and especially in her family and close friends. She was never too busy to turn aside and utter a word of hope and good cheer to those with whom she came in contact.

Present arrangements for funeral are for services to be held at the Methodist church in this city Monday, October 14, at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Seymour cemetery.

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The above was taken from the Centerville Iowa paper. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Lloyd Lanning who is pastor of this Methodist church from which the funeral occurred. Mrs. Rinker's home was just two blocks from the church where she had her membership. The several sons acted as pallbearers.

Mrs. Rinker was the oldest sister of the late Alexander Brinkley, of this city. Mr. Wm. Brinkley and Major Rinker attended the funeral. Mr. and Mrs. James Stinson were visiting at the home of T. M. Rinker at Ashland, Kansas, when word was received of the death. They left there immediately for Centerville.

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The editor sincerely appreciates the contribution to The Jerome Journal of the above obituaries by Geraldine Rinker of Augusta, Georgia.