John I. Rinaker

John Irving Rinaker (November 1, 1830 – January 15, 1915) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a brigade commander in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

John I. Rinaker
From Volume I of 1879's History of Macoupin County, Illinois
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 16th district
In office June 5, 1896 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	Finis E. Downing
Succeeded by	William H. Hinrichsen
Personal details
Born	John Irving Rinaker (1830-11-01)November 1, 1830 Baltimore, Maryland
Died	January 15, 1915(1915-01-15) (aged 84) Eustis, Florida
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	McKendree College
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1862–1865
Rank	Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
Commands	122nd Illinois Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Rinaker moved with his parents to Springfield, Illinois, in December 1836. He attended the Illinois College for one term and graduated from McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois, in 1851.

He subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854 and commenced practice in Carlinville, Illinois.

With the outbreak of the Civil War he raised and organized the 122nd Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1862 and was commissioned as its first colonel on September 4, 1862. He served in the Western Theater of the American Civil War and commanded a brigade in the XVI Corps of the Army of the Tennessee. In the omnibus promotions at the end of the war, he was brevetted brigadier general dating from March 13, 1865.

Rinaker served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1876 and 1884 and then was chairman of the Board of Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners of Illinois 1885-1889. He successfully contested as a Republican the election of Finis E. Downing to the Fifty-fourth Congress and served from June 5, 1896, to March 3, 1897. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress.

Rinaker returned to Carlinville, Illinois, and resumed the practice of law. He died in Eustis, Florida, January 15, 1915. He was interred in the City Cemetery, Carlinville, Illinois.

References

• United States Congress. "John I. Rinaker (id: R000261)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links

• Works by or about John I. Rinaker at the Internet Archive
• John I. Rinaker at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress