SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Herman Frederick Reineking, Page 288

HERMAN FREDERICK REINEKING, an honored pioneer of 1847, was born in Langenholzhausen, Lippe-Detmold, Germany, January 3, 1823, being a son of Frederick and Mary (Bilstein) Reineking.  He was reared and educated in his native land, receiving a good education in German, to which he added a knowledge of English, acquired after coming to the United States.  Mr. Reineking was married July 16, 1848, to Miss Charlotte Luhmann, the ceremony being performed in Milwaukee, because there was no one in the county invested with the right to perform a marriage ceremony.  Mrs. Reineking was born November 27, 1825, and came to this country with her parents, Simon and Sophia (Heitmann) Luhmann, who were the heads of one of the thirteen families who emigrated from Lippe-Detmold, Germany, to the United States in 1847, and settled in Herman Township.  Both parents lived to a good old age, the mother dying at the age of seventy years, and the father at eighty-six years.  Of their five children who came to this country, Simon, Frederick, Ernst, Charlotte and Caroline, all are now deceased save Charlotte, Mrs. Reineking.

    Upon his marriage, Mr. Reineking located on the old homestead, which he made his home the remainder of his life.  In this farm there were one hundred and seventy acres, of which he donated seven acres to the Mission House.  He was one of the most prominent men in establishing that school, donating liberally of money and labor.  For many years he was a Trustee, and always a warm advocate, of that institution.  He was also an active participant in the organization of the Town Herman Fire Insurance Company, and was a man ever ready to lend a hand to any enterprise that promised to be of public benefit.

    In politics, our subject took no active part, though he exercised his right of franchise in support of the Republican party.  In the performance of good works he was a leader among his fellow-men, and his death, which occurred October 9, 1881, was felt to be a great loss to the community in which he was so much appreciated for his sterling qualities.

    A family of eight children was born to Mr. Reineking and wife.  Sophia died when ten years of age; Frederick William is the next in order of birth; Marie died in infancy; Herman is a practicing physician of Sheboygan; Albert J. died September 12, 1865; Marie, the second bearing that name, is the wife of William Werneke, of Manitowoc County; George died January 26, 1891; and Lydia makes her home with her brother Frederick.