-------------------------------
biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
SOLOMON E. RHINEHART, M. D., was the son of the late Judge James and Delilah Rhinehart, and was born at Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., Oct. 19, 1827. The family resided there some eight years after his birth, then removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where his father, though an attorney at law, engaged in teaching school long enough to entitle him, according to the law of Ohio at that time, to practice his profession there. It was here, at the schools taught by his father, that young Rhinehart commenced his school days. Possessing an active mind, united with a strong will, he mastered the outlines of a good education in early life, that enabled him to seek higher educational advantages. These being afforded him, he lost no time until old enough to choose the profession he qualified himself for, and energetically followed as long as his health would permit. Our subject read medicine three years with Dr. Hildreth, a prominent physician and surgeon of Zanesville, Ohio, and was then advised by his preceptor to go for six months to a medical school at Cleveland, Ohio, to make further preparations for college. Complying with all the preliminary demands, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1850. On returning home he commenced practice at Senecaville, where his parents had lived for many years. But, like thousands of others, he thought of the advice of Horace Greeley, "Go west, young man," and came to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the spring of 1851, entering into partnership with Dr. Weatherford, who had a good practice. It was soon discovered that the young doctor had the ability and push necessary to make him just the man needed in this new country. In less than two years his partner went to Oregon, but Dr. Rhinehart's reputation was fairly established, and his rising fame assured as a doctor of medicine; and withal, being prepossessing and with winning manners, it could hardly be expected he would remain long without another partner, and the next to be a woman. There lived a very intelligent young lady in the county, the daughter of Asa and Susan Davis, then of Harrison Township, but formerly from Hallowell, Me. It was noticed by some of his friends of Oskaloosa that in addition to the Doctor's duties in the practice of his profession, he would occasionally visit in the country, and on Oct. 19, 1852, at the residence of the bride's parents, on the farm now owned by her brother, M. M. B. Davis, Dr. S. E. Rhinehart and Miss Maria J. Davis were united in the bonds of matrimony, Rev. Thomas Ballinger officiating. Assuming the responsibilities of their new relations, those young people united heart and hand, and with indomitable energy started out to lay the foundation of the wealth they afterward enjoyed. But several years before his death the Doctor's health failed. As a last resort he went to Denver, Col., and thinking it helped him, made three visits there, the last time taking his family with him. There he lingered for eighteen months, surrounded by a loving family and able physicians, doing all they could to make him comfortable. But his disease, consumption, baffled both skill and kindness, and on the 18th of January, 1875, aged forty-seven years and three months, in his right mind, and in the full assurance of a blessed immortality, not only for himself but all mankind, feelingly and affectionately, he embraced his family, bade them farewell, and closed his eyes in death, to wake up amid the flashing glories of immortal youth. The remains of the Doctor were brought back to Oskaloosa for interment. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and on the day of burial the brethren took charge of his remains from the home of his parents, and gently carried them to the Methodist Church, where a funeral service was conducted by the Rev. C. B. Clark, resident pastor, after which the body was taken to Forest Cemetery by the Master Masons of the city, and buried in the family lot by the side of several dear children. Dr. Rhinehart at death left a wife and two daughters, Alice and Cora. Alice married Mr. William F. Calloway in Denver, hut has since died, leaving one child, a daughter, who is now nine years old. Cora, the only one surviving, lives with her mother in the city, where they have a competence for life. The children gone before were Alice, Clarence, Nellie and Mary. A grand family monument made of red Scotch granite marks the spot where cluster fond and sacred recollections of the memory of Dr. S. E. Rhinehart.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy