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E. S. HINRICHSEN was born in the Grand Duchy of Mechlinberg, on the 29th of April, 1815. The father of Mr. H., Solomon Hinrichsen, Esq., is still living in the Duchy, though over eighty-six years of age. He was a merchant of many years standing. Though retired from active business for a long time, he is yet able to walk five miles in the morning without great fatigue. The mother of Mr. E. S. Hinrichsen, whose maiden name was Rachel Behrens, died about four years ago, deeply regretted by a large family and many friends. Mr. Hinrichsen was educated in the mercantile line of business, after attending the usual common schools of the country. He was a clerk in the city of Laarge for three years. He next entered a large wholesale establishment in the city of Hamburg. He was also supercargo on a vessel for nearly three years, and made two trips to the Mediterranean, one to Sumatra, and one to South America. After the latter voyage he was shipwrecked on the Louisiana coast, and finally landed upon the Unhappy Islands. He then went up the Mississippi river, then up the Ohio, and came to Pennsylvania. He then made two trips to New Orleans on the rivers, and then engaged in railroading, under Thaddeus Stevens (afterwards the great commoner), on the Harrisburg & Gettysburg Railway. This road was called "Thad. Stevens' tape-worm," owing to its peculiar grade and curves. When Mr. 1366Hinrichsen first came to Pennsylvania, he discovered the oil which of late has made Oil Creek so noted. He had some analyzed by a chemist at Pittsburg, who pronounced it excellent for rheumatism. It was called at this time, the "American Rock Oil." He did not understand the nature of the same, and thus let the golden opportunity of making a fortune slip through his hands, not knowing that the oil could be obtained in large quantities by boring. At this time, any of the land could be purchased for eighteen and three-fourth cents per acre. Mr. H. was the first man in the country to have the oil analyzed, and was the predecessor of those speculating parties, who almost coined gold out of the wild and inhospitable soil of the oil regions. There is much credit due Mr. H. for first introducing to the attention of the chemist this now far-famed petroleum.

Mr. H. started for the west in 1840, and arrived in Illinois in the latter part of March, of the same year. After a close examination of the state, he finally settled in Franklin, Morgan County, about seven miles south of where Alexander is now situated. Here he established himself in the mercantile business. He remained in this line of trade until 1852. He laid out Franklin, now known as Orleans, in 1852, and established his brother in the general merchandise business, but the style of the firm was in the name of the subject of this sketch. In 1853 he sold his store at Franklin, and purchased a firm three miles north of Franklin. He was also the station agent at Orleans, and grain buyer. In 1856 he purchased over one hundred thousand bushels of wheat. Not being able to obtain sufficient ground for building purposes at Orleans, in 1857 he laid out the present town of Alexander, naming it after the "Napoleon farmer of the west" - John T. Alexander, Esq. This place ever since has been the home of Mr. Hinrichsen. He was the stock agent of the Great Western Railroad in 1857. He held that position to the satisfaction of all parties concerned till 1867, when the consolidated Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway appointed him general stock agent for the road from Buffalo to Quincy, with all the branches of the road, with the single exception of the city of St. Louis. This business occupies nearly all his time, as the great railway, with its immense traffic in stock transportation, ever keeps Mr. H. on the move from one important point to another. The position is a great compliment to the business skill and management of the subject of this article. That he is worthy of the confidence placed in him by the officers of this great corporation, is evident from the long series of years in which he has been in their employ. As to the domestic relations of Mr. H., we would state that he was married in 1845, to Miss Anna Wyatt, daughter of William Wyatt, Esq., of Franklin precinct. He was among the first pioneers of Morgan county, and is regarded as among its most prominent citizens. Six children are the rest of his marriage - three boys and three girls. The oldest was twenty-five years of age in August (1872), and the youngest, five years of age in July (1872). We have given a terse and brief sketch of the life of Mr. H., so full of striking and interesting events. What he is today is due to his remarkable business adaptability, his knowledge of men, and that instinctive love of order - a peculiar characteristic of great railroad men. Withal, he is a kind, affectionate neighbor, hospitable to the strangers, and an advocate of the right. His generosity is only equaled by his urbanity. He is popular among both employers and employees, and is noted from one end of the road to the other as a first-class business man. 1366