My Genealogy Hound

Rudolph Wintker, planter, Ulm, Ark. This gentleman is another of the many esteemed citizens of foreign birth who have made their home in Prairie County. He was born in Germany on December 27, 1833, and was the son of Matthew Wintker and Wilhelmina Wortman, both natives of Germany and both members of the Lutheran Church. The father was a farmer by occupation and this pursuit carried on the principal part of his life. Rudolph Wintker left his native country with his mother and emigrated to the United States. They located first in St. Louis, but subsequently moved to Illinois, where they remained two years and then returned to St. Louis, where he learned the carpenter’s trade. About 1851 he returned to Illinois, locating in Washington County, and there, on January 3, 1856, was united in marriage to Miss Mena Platt, a native of Germany. This union resulted in the birth of nine children, six of whom are living at the present time: Caroline, Franklin, Henry, Emma, Emele and Rudolph, and all reside in Prairie County. The mother of these children died on February 8, 1885, and Mr. Wintker chose for his second wife Miss Helena Eilers, and was married to her on April 16, 1889. He emigrated from Illinois to Arkansas on December 1, 1882, located where he now resides, and is the owner of 200 acres of good land, with seventy acres under cultivation. He has held the office of school director and has been justice of the peace for five years. He has also been a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Mr. Wintker also handles considerable real-estate and is one of the thorough-going business men of the county. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and reside a short distance from the same. He makes it now a special business to sell real-estate and attend to collections.