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Stephenson County
Although more than a third of a century has passed away since Reint
Reints was called to his final rest, he is yet remembered by many of
the older settlers as a prominent and enterprising farmer of Ridott
township, where his capable management of his business interests made
him the owner of seven hundred acres of valuable farming land. He was
born in Veenhusen, Ostfriesland, Germany, March 7, 1833, and his
parents, Heije and Kuntje (Kruse) Reints, were also natives of that
country. The father was a farmer in Germany and on crossing the
Atlantic to America in 1850 established his home in Stephenson County,
settling in Ridott township. He made his way westward by boat to
Savanna, Illinois, and thence drove across the country with ox teams
to his destination. He first purchased eighty acres of land in Ridott,
improved that and added to it from time to time as his financial
resources permitted until he had accumulated considerable land. Upon
his original purchase he remained until his death, which occurred when
he was more than eighty years of age. His wife passed away at the age
of seventy-two. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters:
Elske, the deceased wife of George Beck; John, of Hastings, Nebraska;
Wilhelm, of Le Mars, Iowa; Heiko, of German Valley, Stephenson county;
and Grietje, the wife of John Buttle, of German Valley.
Reint Reints was seventeen years of age when he came to America with
his parents. He had previously acquired his education in the common
schools of Germany and after arriving in Stephenson County he lived at
home until he had attained his majority, and during that period
assisted in the cultivation and improvement of a new farm. At the time
of his marriage he purchased eighty acres of land from his father and
was thereafter engaged in farming on his own account in Ridott
township until the time of his demise. As the years passed he won
success through his diligence, determination and perseverance. He
worked early and late until he was fairly started on the high road to
prosperity and in the course of time, through his judicious
investments, he had become the owner of over seven hundred acres of
land, which he improved, making this very valuable property. Thus he
was numbered among the extensive landowners of the county and was
classed with the most successful citizens of this district.
On the 15th of April, 1858, Mr Reints was married to Miss Maria
Ackerman, a daughter of Hinderk and Katharina (Addengast) Ackerman.
She was born in Opleeward, Germany, May 9, 1835. Her parents were also
natives of that country and came to the United States in 1856,
settling in Ridott township, Stephenson County, where Mrs Reints was
married. Her father engaged in farming and died on the old homestead
at the age of seventy-nine years, while his wife passed away at the
age of sixty-two. He was a soldier in Hanover, Germany. In the
Ackerman family were three children, Maria, Henry and Feike. The
paternal grandparents of Mrs Reints were Feike and Maria Ackerman,
while the maternal grandparents were Adde and Greitje Addengast.
Nine children were born unto Mr and Mrs Reints: Heije R., a resident
farmer of Silver Creek township, who married Lizzie Brockmeier;
Hinderk R., who wedded Maria Ackerman, who died June 16, 1897, leaving
a daughter, Marie; John R., who wedded Trientge Ackerman, and is
living in Ridott township; Feike R., who married Hauke Ackerman and
has three children -- Marie, Rena and Harry; Kuntje R., who died when
about two years of age; Reint Albert, who died February 20, 1884, at
the age of seventeen years; Geert R., who lives on the old homestead
and married Lizzie Brauer, now deceased, by whom he had two children
-- Marie and Minnie; Kuntje R., the second of the name, who married
Albert Sluiter, of Freeport, and has four children -- Reint, Arvilla,
Edna and Katharine; and Krieno R., who married Edde De Vries and has
three children -- Reint, Sophie and Krieno.
The death of the husband and father occurred September 20, 1876, when
he was forty-three years of age. The community deeply mourned his loss
for he was one of the representative agriculturists and business men.
Moreover, he had capably served as supervisor of his township and was
a faithful member of the German Reformed church, to which his widow
also belongs. Mrs Reints has continued to reside in this county but
some years ago left the farm and took up her abode in Freeport, her
home now being at No. 140 Oak street.
Contributed by Amy Robins - History of Stephenson County, Illinois
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