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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Henry Brinkman. A man’s real worth to his community is best determined by inquiring into the sentiment of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Their estimate of him is found to be of more value in uncovering the truth than all other sources of information. However if there is found in this sentiment a diversity of opinion, it is difficult to arrive at accurate conclusions. On the other hand, if absolute harmony prevails in it, if it is found to be a single unit, if a man’s neighbors and daily associates, without a single dissenter, proclaim him to be a worthy citizen and a power for good in the community, then accuracy of conclusion is made easy; for no precedent exists in which perfect harmony of public opinion has proved to be wrong. The conclusions formed and herein set forth with reference to the man under consideration have been moulded entirely from the sentiment of his friends and fellow citizens and, since this sentiment had in it not a single discordant note its accuracy can be fully vouchsafed and relied upon. Henry Brinkman is the nestor of Posey county’s men of affairs. He became a resident of the county in 1850, a principal in a commercial enterprise in 1851, a manufacturer in 1853, and is still the active head, at the age of eighty-eight, of a drain-tile plant and a retail hardware, implement and furniture business. Sixty-two years of continuous commercial activity during which time his name has become familiar in practically every home within the county, a reputation for honesty, fairness and high business ideals, seldom attained in the field of commence, entitle him to distinctive recognition in this publication. Henry Brinkman was born in the Duchy of Lippe-Detmold, Germany, May 16, 1825. He obtained a fair education in the schools of his native country, which he attended until the age of fourteen, learned the brickmaker’s trade in the succeeding six years and, during the next five, that of wagon-making. In 1850 inclination led him to seek the opportunities then offering in the United States and he came to Indiana, remaining for about two months in Evansville, and then locating in Mt. Vernon, where he secured employment in the wagon factory of Gottlieb Koerner, and in the following year, 1852, secured an interest in the business. During the years 1854 to 1861 he was engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements and wagons, the last two years having as an associate in business, John H. Barter. In the last-named year he began the manufacture of the “Brinkman Wagon,” having but one apprentice to assist him at the start. His products were well received, proved to be of high quality, and the factory force soon numbered twenty hands. He was the inventor of the “Posey Clipper” plow and manufactured them in profitable quantities. In 1869 he established a brick manufacturing plant which he operated successfully until 1875, when he changed it into a drain-tile factory. This enterprise he has conducted with success, it has given employment to as many as thirty-five hands, and is still operated with profit. In 1875 he formed, with William Burtis, the firm of Brinkman & Burtis and engaged in the implement business. Mr. Burtis retired from the firm in 1881 and the firm name was changed to Brinkman & Sons, two of his sons, Henry A. and Charles, being admitted to partnership. Another son, Otto, was given an interest later and he, with his father and brother, Charles, constitute the present firm, Henry A. Brinkman having died in 1900. Hardware and furniture have since been added to the line of implements and the business is not only the oldest in years of establishment in Posey county, but enjoys a satisfied clientage, while its sales exceed $40,000 per annum. Mr. Brinkman has also been interested directly and indirectly with many other business enterprises of his home city and perhaps no one of its citizens has had more to do with the development and building up of Mt. Vernon than he during the years 1860 to 1895. In truth he has been one of the foremost in every movement which had for its object the city’s progress, thrift and substantial growth. He was for several years president of the Manufacturers’ Aid Society of Mt. Vernon and brought to this office the same business ability which he had displayed in his private affairs, with the result that the society’s affairs were conducted in a wise, conservative and business like way. He has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He served as a member of the city council for several terms, having been first elected in 1869. Mr. Brinkman is a member of the directorate of the Mt. Vernon National Bank, is seldom absent from a meeting of the board, and it is probable that there is not another man of his age in the State of Indiana that is a member of the board of directors of a financial institution, much less one who is actively concerned with the conduct of his bank and who is conceded to be a valued member of its governing body. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Evangelical church. Mr. Brinkman married in October, 1852, Miss Margaret Hahn, a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and the daughter of Henry Hahn. Mrs. Brinkman died in 1893. Ten children were born of this union, who are as follows: Minnie, who married John C. Leffel, of Mt. Vernon, publisher of “The Western Star” and editor of this work; Mrs. Leffel died on February 28, 1907. Henry A., until his death in 1900 a member of the firm of Brinkman & Sons” Mollie, who has never married and resides with her father; Charles, of the H. Brinkman Company; Caroline, who became the wife of Fred Walter, a merchant of Mt. Vernon, both of whom are deceased; Louis formerly interested with his father and now a manufacturer of tile in Georgia; Anna, who married Meade Williams, of Mt. Vernon both of whom are deceased; Otto, a member of the H. Brinkman Company; Matilda, the wife of William A. Holton, cashier of the Mt. Vernon National Bank, personal mention of whom appears in this work, and Hattie, the wife of William O. Wilson, superintendent of the schools of Posey county, who is also mentioned in the biographical section of this volume. To do justice to the many phases of the career of Mr. Brinkman within the limits of an article of this order would be impossible but in even touching upon the more salient points there may come objective lesson and incentive and thus a tribute of appreciation As a man among men, bearing his due share in connection with the practical activities and responsibilities of a work-a-day world, he has been successful, but overall and above all, he has gained a deep knowledge of the well springs from which emerge the stream of human motive and action. He has gained a clear apprehension of what life means, what its dominating influences, what its possibilities, and is ever ready to impart to his fellow men the fruits of his investigation, contemplation and mature wisdom.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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