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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Herman H. Beinke, contractor, builder, and dealer in all kinds of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, etc., of Washington, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1840, and the son of John Frederick and Anne Marie (Bruning) Bienke, natives of Germany, born in 1801 and 1812, respectively. In 1843 the father immigrated to the United States, and bought an acre of land in St. Louis for $275, now in the neighborhood of Mullanphy and Sixteenth Streets. He lived there one year, after which he sold out and bought eighty acres eight miles south of Washington, in Franklin County, the farm now being owned by Henry Meyer, and here passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1864. His wife died in 1857. She was the mother of nine children, only six of whom are living. Herman H. was the second child, and was quite small when brought by his parents to Franklin County. He was reared and grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and at the age of sixteen learned the carpenter’s trade, working as an apprentice for two years. In 1859 he went to St. Louis, and began working as a journeyman, and so continued until the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South. Being a strong Union man he enlisted. April 17, 1861, in Company A, First Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers, for three months, commanded by Col. Frank P. Blair; was in several skirmishes, and at the end of his enlistment returned home and commenced working in Washington. In January, 1864, Mr. Beinke and John M. Degen formed a partnership, and began contracting and building. This firm lasted nearly two years, and in October, 1865, they dissolved partnership, and from the last named date until the present Mr. Beinke has conducted the business on his own responsibility with the exception of about eighteen months, when his brother, Henry, became his partner, the firm then being Beinke Bros. He also keeps a lumber yard, and is one of Washington’s most substantial business men. He has erected upward of 150 houses in Washington and vicinity, furnishes the best material, and is doing an extensive business. In January, 1866, he married Miss Mary Charlotte Oetker, who was born in Washington, Mo., in 1846, and who is the daughter of Henry Oetker. The fruits of this union were six children, four of whom are living: Amos, Regina, Hilda and Arthur. Mr. Beinke is a Republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R., D. O. H., U. T. B., and he and wife are members of the Protestant Church. In 1869 he was elected a member of the town council, and served ten years. In 1887 he was again elected, and is a member at the present time. He has been a member of the school board for the past three years, and has been treasurer of the same the entire time. He was also town collector two terms.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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