Henry Reints, a farmer living on section 35, of Forreston Township, is a native of the Kingdom of Hanover and was born Aug. 25, 1825. He is the son of Sweer H. and Marie (Johnson) Reints, who came to the United States in 1848, and settled in Ridott Township, Stephenson County, (IL). There he engaged in farming, and from that place the mother was buried, Sept. 22, 1864, aged 74 years. The father died, following his life companion, after the brief space of two years, in 1866, also aged 74. To them had been given a family of seven children, one girl and six boys. Mr. Reints is the only survivor. (in 1886)
Our subject had a fair amount of educational advantages and received some practical training in the common schools of Germany. When his father came to Stephenson County he accompanied him, working at his trade of harness making. He took to his hearth and home a helpmeet in the person of Wiemke Hassebrouke. Thier espousal was celebrated Aug. 5, 1855. She was a daughter or William and Ann (Schweers) Hassebrouke, natives of Germany. They came to Illinois settling in Ogle County, where they died in Mt. Morris Township. Their family was large, consisting of nine children, including six daughters and three sons.
After the marriage of Mr. Reints of this narrative, he went to Minnesota and took up a claim in Nicolet County and also kept a hotel, residing there until he was driven out by savages, after which he came back to Illinois, and buying 40 acres in Leaf River Township, engaged in farming, working at his trade during the winter. There he remained until 1861, when he sold out and bought land in Forreston Township. Mr. Reints is largely engaged in general farming and owns 160 acres in Forreston and 10 acres in Marion Township. In politics he is a Demoocrat and has held the office Justice of the Peace. He is a free thinker and a liberal minded man in sentiment. He had a family of ten children, eight of whom are living as follows: Mary, Ann, Allie,Wiliam, Reinardy, Sweer, Emma and Henrietta.
Return to Ogle Co. Genealogy Site