Russwinkel, John H.

PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF MORGAN AND SCOTT COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
Chicago: Chapman Bros., Publishers

1889


JOHN H. RUSSWINKEL. The American born citizens of German ancestry represent some of the best elements in the agricultural districts, being almost without exception, thrifty, industrious, honest, well-to-do, and thoroughly reliable. They have been willing to make sacrifices, and endure hardships and privations for the sake of future good, and this course in due time invariably brings its reward. The subject of this notice, a son of one of the German pioneers of this county, was born Feb. 5, 1858, was reared to habits of industry and economy, and is now comfortably established on a good farm of his own comprising eighty acres of land on section 19, township 16, range 12.

On another page in this volume will be found a sketch of the brother of our subject, George H. Russwinkel, and mention of the parents, John H. Sr., and Ellen Russwinkel, who are both natives of Germany, and the former of whom emigrated to America probably some time in the fifties. He first occupied himself as a farm laborer, then operated on rented land, and finally purchased a farm on section 16, township 16, range 12, where he built up a good homestead, and where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away Oct. 12, 1885. Upon his place at the time of purchase, there was a log hut and part of the land had been broken, but a large amount of labor was required in bringing the soil to a fertile condition, and in making the improvements which he effected upon it.

The father of Mr. Russwinkel was well known throughout this county for his sterling integrity, likewise his energy and perseverance. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he served as Trustee, and to which he gave liberally of his means. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, and in his death the county lost one of her best citizens. John H., our subject, was reared to manhood under the parental roof, and received his education in the district school. As soon as old enough, he was required to make himself useful about the farm, and remained with his father until he was past twenty-seven years of age.

The 23d of April, 1885, was made memorable in the life of our subject by his marriage with Miss Catherine E. Heitbrink. This lady was born in the Province of Osnabruck, Germany, and came to America with her parents when twenty-one years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Russwinkel there was born one child, a daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. Russwinkel, like his father and brother, supports Democratic principles, and is a reliable citizen, held in respect by all who know him.


1889 Index
MAGA © 2000-2011. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s).