My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. RINESMITH, one of the leading and successful business men of Carlisle, was born in Perry county, this State, Aug. 28, 1840, a son of Henry Rinesmith. The father was a weaver by trade, but later in life became a farmer, and died in 1845, the mother passing away the May of the same year. They had nine children, namely: John, who died in Perry county, was a farmer and merchant; David (deceased), was a carpenter, but became a farmer, and still later a hotelkeeper; Samuel, of Blaine, Pa., is retired (he served in the Civil war); William, a resident of Carlisle, served for three years in the Civil war; Henry, who died in Blaine, was a farmer; George W. is mentioned below; Mary (deceased) married Solomon Gutshall; Susan is the widow of Frederick Gutshall, of Blaine, Pa.; Elizabeth died unmarried, in Carlisle.

George W. Rinesmith was only five years of age when he lost his parents, and he was bound out to Isaac Buttorff of Perry county, who two years later moved into Cumberland county. The lad remained with his master until after he was eighteen, and only received a very limited education. In the spring of 1859 he went to Mechanicsburg and entered as an apprentice in a tin shop, as he desired to learn the trade of tinsmith. There he remained until July, 1861, when he went to Washington, D. C., and joined the Quartermaster’s Department as assistant wagonmaster, soon afterward becoming wagonmaster, and remaining in the department until July, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. He located in Carlisle, purchasing the tin and stove business of Mrs. Monroe Morris, next door to his present location, and carried on the business at the original location until 1870, when he built the structure he now occupies. His business developed yearly until it reached its present magnitude, and he now carries the heaviest stock in the city, handling almost everything in his line from a stove to the smallest kitchen contrivance. Owing to his close application to affairs he has been enabled to raise himself from poverty to wealth, and during these years has also managed to exert his influence for good in the community, although he still supervises the business, the active work has been done by his sons since 1888. In addition to other interests Mr. Rinesmith is a director of the Farmers’ Trust Co. He has also done a great amount of building, having erected fifteen residences, in addition to some business blocks, while his own residence, at No. 48 East Louther street, is especially comfortable and commodious. He has been a public benefactor and given liberally toward objects of worth. For some years he has been a worthy member of the council, as a representative of the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Carlisle Lodge, No. 91.

On March 24, 1864, Mr. Rinesmith married Miss Alice Mater, daughter of George Mater, and six children have been born of the marriage: Harry F., a tinner, married Lillian Moudy, and has one child, Fay; Clayton R., who with Harry, conducts the father’s business, married Minnie Leopard; Adaline married Robert Rupp, of Columbia, Pa.; Charles lives at home: Herman, a cutter at the Lindner shoe factory, is at home; William W., who is in the poultry and egg business in Carlisle, married Mary Ritner, and they have had three children, Mildred, Lester and an infant.