Marriage Information:
John married Sarah Elizabeth EDWARDS on Jan 24, 1847 in Harrison Twp, Mahaska Co, Iowa. (Sarah Elizabeth EDWARDS was born in 1829 in Staten Island, New York, died on Nov 23, 1886 in Grand Ronde, Union Co, Ore. and was buried in Summerville, Union Co, Oregon.)
JOHN RINEHART
John Rinehart, a native of eastern Tennessee, married Sarah Edwards who was born
on Staten Island, New York. They were married in
Oskaloosa, Iowa, to which place they had removed with their respective parents.
Sarah's parents were Britton and Mar (Dildine) Edwards. Note: Martha married 2nd
Amos G. Phillips. John, Sarah and Martha are buried in the Summerville Cemetery.
John and Sarah took up their abode upon a farm in Mahaska County, Iowa. In 1852,
about 5 years after their marriage, they moved
westward to Oregon and on the trip across the plains their oxen died. For a
thousand miles Sarah rode a cayuse pony on saddle improvised by herself, fording
the streams seated on the pony's back, and traveling day after day over long
stretches of hot sand or through mountain passes until they arrived in Oregon,
which was then under territorial rule. John had at the time a cash capital of
eight dollars. They had been compelled to abandon their wagons on the plains and
had endured many hardships and privations on their trip, but at length they
reached the northwest,
spending the first winter in the vicinity of Salem. The following spring they
removed to Lane Co., where John secured a tract of 160 acres of land, south of
Eugene, where the family stayed until 1869. In that year John mover his family
to Gilliam county, but the school system in that districts had not been organized
and, not wishing to deprive his seven children of educational advantages, John,
after two years, removed to the
Grande Ronde Valley, in Union Co. Here he acquired a section of productive land
south of Summerville, upon which and Sarah made their home until they died..
Sarah in 1886 and John in 1894.
John Rinehart was a democrat in his political views but was never an aspirant
for office. While largely denied educational opportunities
himself, he took a deep interest in the schools and the development of the
educational system of the state and labors constituted a dominant factor in the
building of several of the pioneer school houses of Oregon. He gave his children
excellent advantages, resolving that they should have the benefits of
intellectual training which he lacked. - Information Thomas A. Rinehart, son of
John and Sarah.
JOHN RINEHART'S LETTER TO HIS SISTER MARY RATLIFF
January the 22nd, 1870
Seat Post Office, Wasco Co. Ogn
Dear Brother and Sister I now seat myself once again to write you a few lines to
let you know where I am. We are all well and harty and
hope this may find you the same. I am now living in Wasco Co. East of the
Cascades mountains 60 miles from Dalles City on the Columbia River and one
hundred and forty miles from Grande Round Valley where the boys live. I sold out
last summer in the Willamet valley and came out here last fall. We left ther in
September and came out here. I have had poor health in that country for a great
many years. That climate is very
rainy in winter and damp which causes me to be troubled a great deal with that
old cough, such as I used to have in that country Iowa
------------. So I got so I was not abel to any work in damp weather and now in
that East of the Cascade mountains the climate was dry it would agree with me
and my family better. I have not felt anything of that old cough since I left
there. Where I have stopped it is not calculated to ev
be settled up very thick. It is a great grazing country but there is not mutch
of a show for schools hear. I do not now how long I will
remain where I am. I brought out hear with me but a small stock, thirteen head
of horses and eighteen head cattle. I am a going back in the spring to bring out
some sheep. Sheep I think pays the best. Sheep is low in the valley. They will
be worth in the spring $1 to $1.25 per head.
I received a letter from father not long since they were all well. Our oldest
boy we sent back to the Willamet valley to school this winter.
Lewis C. is 16 years old and is taller than I am and weighed 160 pounds when he
left. We have 6 boys and one girl. When we left home last fall brother William
talked of moving to this country in the spring.
Marthy Edwards was married last summer to a man by the name of Wm.Miller, one of
their old neighbors, and moved East of the Cascades
some 200 miles from home and about the same from hear. They have settled on what
is nown Goos lake,
I received a letter a short time ago from grande round valley from Lewis B. They
were all well but P. S. Morton he is poorly still. Just
able to be up and around the house.
We have got all of our likenesses but Lewis C. That we have not got yet. We will
send them to you in this letter or by this mail.
I want you to write to us and tell us what you are doing and it there is any of
our old neighbors there yet and all the news in general. As
it is getting late in the evening and my ink is all gone, I will haf to bring
letter to close so no more at present. But remains your affectionate Brother and
sister.
John Rinehart
S. E. Rinehart
Direct your male to Seat P. O. Wasco Co. Ogn.
THE LATE JOHN RINEHART
John Rinehart, whose death occurred at Summerville January 15, 1894, was born in
East Tennessee December 14, 1823, and with his parents
removed to Illinois in 1828 where he spent his boyhood days. That being a new
country at that time, and his par being poor, his chances for education were
limited, though he had what was then called a common school education. He
removed with his parents to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1845, and was married to
Sarah E. Edwards in 1847.
He, with his wife, removed to Oregon in 1852, crossing the plains with an ox
team until they reached Grande Ronde valley. A portion of their
oxen having died and the balance being very poor, he traded them for ponies and
proceeded on their journey horseback, with their worldly effects and camp
equipage packed on a cayuse horse. He settled in Lane county. He removed to
Union county in 1871 and settled near Summerville.
His wife, the companion of his youth, preceded him beyond the "dark river" some
seven years. He leaves six sons, all grown.
John Rinehart was the eldest son of Lewis and Elizabeth Rinehart. They had
thirteen children, eight boys and five girls, all of whom have
lived to middle age and reared families. The father, Lewis Rinehart, died some
thirteen years ago, since which time three of the daughters have passed to the
unknown beyond. The mother, now about 86 years of age, resides with her son
Henry, of this place, and is quite strong and active for one of her age.
A host of relatives and friends mourn the loss of John Rinehart, who was ever
honorable and liberal in his dealings; kind to his neighbors
who were sick or in distress. He will long be remembered by his neighbors.
Copied "as is."
Spouses/Children: