"COUNTIES OF MORGAN, MONROE & BROWN, INDIANA. HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL."
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR. CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1884.
F. A. BATTEY. F. W. TEPPLE
CLAY TOWNSHIP, MORGAN CO., INDIANA
PAGE 268
WILLIAM RINKER (deceased) was born in Washington County, Ind., on July 30,
1816, and died in Morgan County on May 6, 1881. He came to Morgan County
with his parents in 1830, where he lived until his death. In 1846, he
became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for thirty-five years
testified his faith in the Savior, his joy in the Holy Ghost, and his hope
of a blessed immortality. His disease was erysipelas, and for four long
weeks his sufferings were terrible, but he endured them with Christian
fortitude, and he was never head to murmur or complain. When questioned as
to his feelings, he replied that he was trusting in the Lord, that all was
well with him, and that he had not missed praying every day for fifty years.
Although he was remarkably diffident as to his ability as a useful man, he
remained an affectionate husband, ever treating his companion kindly and
tenderly, and ever striving to render her life agreeable and happy. As a
father, he dearly loved his children, by whom in return he was beloved. His
children, some of whom are young men beginning life for themselves, miss his
wise counsels, his kind advice, his Christian example. In his temporal
affairs he was signally successful, never undertaking anything that he
considered in the lest hazardous, and by his industry and frugality he
accumulated considerable means, which, while it afforded him and his family
luxury as well as comfort, also enabled him to contribute liberally to
charity, and in being a kind neighbor and useful citizen. At his death, he
owned a farm of 500 acres of land well improved and stocked. In politics,
he was a Democrat, being at the time of his demise a member of the Board of
County Commissioners. On January 25, 1844, he was married to Eleanor Clark,
a native of Ohio, born January 16, 1823, and daughter of John and Rebecca
(Matthews) Clark. Eleven children were born to them--John M., E. A.
(deceased), Amanda J., Mary C., Leonidas, Margaret A. (deceased), Rebecca
(deceased), Lewis A. (deceased), Ida E. (deceased), George D. and Oscar B.
Mrs. Rinker a consistent Christian, a kind mother, yet survives her husband.
Although she mourns the loss of her husband, father, sister, three of her
grown children, a son and daughter-in-law--all of whom have passed away
within the last two years--she still holds fast to her faith in the Lord,
with a hope of meeting them.
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