Mr. Reinhardt is one of those characters whose integrity and personality
must force them into an admirable notoriety, which their modesty never
seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity
and leave the impress of their individuality upon the lives of those with
whom they come in contact.
Julius Reinhardt, jeweler and musician of
Centralia, Marion county, and one of the representative business men and
honorable citizens of this locality, was born in Lebanon, Illinois, May 16,
1874, the son of Charles, Sr., and Marie (Blass) Reinhardt. The father of
the subject was born in Germany, near Saxony, and the subject's mother was
born in Bavaria, Germany. They came to America when young and were married
in St. Louis, Missouri. They are now both deceased, the father having been
called from his earthly labors in 1905 and the mother passed to her rest in
1904. There were eight children in their family, seven of whom are living in
1908, our subject being the youngest in order of birth.
The early
education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in the public schools
of Lebanon, Illinois. Later he attended McKendree College, taking a business
course in this institution and making a splendid record for scholarship.
The domestic life of our subject dates from September 12, 1900, when he
was united in marriage to Alberta Allmon, the representative of an
influential family of Salem, Illinois, and to this union two sons and one
daughter have been born, namely: Edwin A., Virginia M., and Julian, the two
oldest being in school at this writing, 1908.
Mr. Reinhardt's
business life properly began in 1889, when he launched in the jewelry
business in Centralia, having first located in Buck's drug store, conducting
a repair shop. Since that time Mr. Reinhardt has been known as a
conscientious as well as a skilled workman. He conducted this business for a
period of three years, when he conducted a similar business with like
success for a period of two years in Zarbeck's hardware store. He started in
with a stock of jewelry in 1889 and he has gradually built up a trade,
having been extensively patronized from the first, until he now has a very
extensive and beautiful stock of goods in commodious and elegant quarters,
and he enjoys a liberal income, always treating his numerous customers with
the utmost courtesy and giving them full value received, having an intimate
knowledge of the jewelry business and giving them the benefit of this
knowledge by placing the best goods obtainable in his store.
In
politics Mr. Reinhardt is strictly independent. There are many features of
each of the great parties which commend themselves to him, but, from his
observation and experience, he has decided that far more depends on the man
than on the platform. It has often been demonstrated that party pledges have
never yet been fabricated out of indestructible material and sensible people
know that more reliance can be placed upon the word and work of a truly
honest man than upon the most sacred pledge of the best political party that
was ever organized. Hence the man and not the party should be the first
consideration of the voter. That the subject is a man of much originality of
thought is clearly evidenced by the position he takes in politics.
The parents of the subject were Presbyterians, but Mr. Reinhardt is not
affiliated with any church organization, but his support can always be
depended upon in the advancement of any movement looking to the religious,
moral, civic or educational welfare of the community. In his fraternal
relations he is a member of the modern Woodmen.
Mr. Reinhardt is a
musician and is a member of the McNeil's orchestra of the Pittenger Grand
Opera House in Centralia, one of the leading musical organizations in this
part of the state. Our subject has thoroughly mastered the English language,
being able to speak either English or German fluently. He is a man of genial
personality, a perfect type of the true gentleman.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 561-562.