BIO: GEORGE W. RINESMITH, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
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  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 262-263
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    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
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  263
  
  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.