CHARLES REINHARDT. This gentleman has been Treasurer and Director of the Sandoval Coal Mining Company for over twelve years.
He is a native of Prussia, having been born in Sutterhausen, August 3, 1828, and is the son of Frederick and Caroline (Tornos) Reinhardt, who were born in Saxony, and later removed to Prussia, where they were married. He was a stone mason by trade and reared a family of three children,
The father of o insubject departed this life in 1868, aged sixty-eight years. His good wife preceded him to the better land by many years, dying when Charles was eighteen years of age.
Our subject was given a good education in his native land, and at the age of fourteen years began learning the trade of a weaver, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He followed that occupation in Prussia until coming to America, which he did in 1853. The passage across the Atlantic was a tedious one and consumed fifty-nine days. Landing in New York harbor in August of the above year, young Reinhardt found that he had left in money but $2.50, and that he was defrauded of on his way to Utica. Stopping in Rome, N. Y., he began working on the Erie Canal, but remained there only a short time when he came further west, his destination being the Prairie State. On his way hither he earned some money by working for a few months on a farm near St. Louis, and when arriving in Marion County, found employment in a saw and grist mill. Later coming to Sandoval, Mr. Reinhardt purchased some land on which he erected a building and conducted a restaurant and saloon for over twenty years.
After the Sandoval Mining Company opened up and began operating their mine in this vicinity, Mr. Reinhardt became a stockholder, and has served the company as their efficient Treasurer for over twelve years. They do a very large business, mining about four hundred tons of clean coal per day, and give employment to two hundred men. It is one of the best mines in southern Illinois, and to the energy and enterprise of our subject the success of the project is greatly due.
The lady who became the wife of our subject May 18, 1859, was Miss Frederika, daughter of Frank and Caroline Teate. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children, three of whom died when young. Those living are,
In his religious belief Mr. Reinhardt is a Lutheran, and contributes very liberally toward the support of his congregation.
In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat. He is a strong advocate of public schools, and has done much to promote the standard of scholarship in his neighborhood. He has been Director for over twenty-one years, and for many terms also served as Trustee of the Board. He has been President of the Town Board for three years, and is known for his sturdy championship of ever}' measure calculated to benefit the community.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 424
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer