H. RHYNSBURGER

Was born in the Netherlands and came to America with his parents in 1855. They
landed at New Orleans and from there came to Keokuk, Iowa, on a boat that was at
that time running between New Orleans and Keokuk on the Mississippi river. From
Keokuk they came to Pella in a wagon drawn by horses. The family consisted of D.
Rhynsburger and wife, five sons and two sisters. The father having followed the
butcher business in their native country, he naturally followed that profession
in America until the Civil war broke out, then under the call of President
Lincoln, he, with his son, Marinus, joined the 15th Iowa Regiment, Co. A, and a
short time another son, A. J. Rhynsburger, joined the 33d Iowa Volunteers in Co.
G. All came back home, but the father was wounded in the head at the battle of
Shiloh and later was wounded for the second time. He died on December 20, 1900.
H. Rhynsburger started in the butter and egg business in 1872 in company with R.
P. Brown. A few years later Brown sold his interests to B. S. Schermerhorn and
Elko Van Houten and Mr. Rhynsburger. Later J. J. Bousquet purchased the Van
Houten interest, then the firm name became Schermerhorn, Bousquet & Rhynsburger.
Shortly after this the firm purchased the egg business of H. A. Noble, of Des
Moines, Pella being then the parent home of the various branches located at
Knoxville and Grinnell. Later this firm dissolved partnership by mutual consent,
Mr. Schermerhorn taking over the Des Moines plant, Bousquet & Rhynsburger taking
the Pella plant. The next change was made when J. J. Bousquet retained the Pella
creamery, the egg and butter business being taken over by the Pella Produce Co.,
Inc. This company sold to H. Rhynsburger who conducted the produce business and
conducted it until 1915 when he sold to the present owners, the Pella Produce
Co. Mr. Rhynsburger, from 1872 until 1915, was continually in the produce
business, a matter of forty-three years. In 1914 he organized the Iowa Butter,
Egg and Poultry Association of Iowa, with thirty- six members and was made
president of the organization and held that responsible position for nineteen
years. The association has grown from thirty-six members to an organization of
over four hundred. He was recognized as authority by all the leading trades
papers and members of that body. In 1915, when he sold out, he connected himself
with one of the largest commission houses in New York and became the
representative in the west. The W. W. Elzea firm is known throughout all the
west as well as eastern states. He travels for this firm throughout Iowa, part
of Missouri and the state of Tennessee. His two sons, Harvey and Dick, are both
in the produce business, the latter in Sully, and are both doing a big business.
Mr. Rhynsburger has been elected as councilman of Pella a number of times and
has helped to make Pella what it is today.