Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-06-30
JOHN Y. BRINKMAN
PASSES AWAY.
Deathlof One of Our Most Prom
inenf Bankers aud MilIers.
HIS A BUSY, USEFUL LIFE.

Nv. Brinkman, one of the builders
of Great Bend and central Kansas, pas
sed to his reward Tuesday June 9th at
4:30 p. M, at the University Hospital
in Kansas City, Mo. Mr.. Brinkma an
had been in declining health for
about two years, and in the middle of
May went to the above institution
and was operated upon. For time
he seemed to be doing very well, but
later on again declined. He has
since the operation seemed better,
but towards the last was unable to
retain any nourishment and practical
ly starved to death.
]. v. Brinkman was born near
Bolivar, O., in January 1871. He
was married near the same place in
March, 1868, to Miss Susan Lebold.
who survives him. He came to this
county early in the year 1874, and in
April of that year in connection with
/. Sam Maher, organized and opened
for business the Barton County Bank,
Mr.. Brinkman being the president.
Later on the name was changed, but
through all the years until his death,
Mr.. Brinkman was the president of
the institution, although IN later years
the actual management devolved on
his son J. George. This institution,
as our readers well know, is the
oldest and largest state bank in this
part of the atate.
Along about the year 1876, in con
nection with E. c. Sooy, now of
Kansas City, Mr.. Brinkman built the
first mill in this part of the state.
The mill was built on the banks of the
Walnut creek, (hence the name which
it still retains,) just south of the poor
house, and was operated by water
power. Several accidents occurred,
and together with scracity of water
caused the builders to move the plant
to town, this being done along in
1873. Soon after that Dave Roberts
entered the firm, which then stood,
Sooy, Brinkman, & Roberts. Both
the partners have dropped out and
moved away; the concern was capital
lied and various people held stock,
but Mr.. Brinkman continued as the
head of institution, and was the presi-
dent. For the past two years the
actual management has been in the
hands of Charles V. Brinkman, his
son, and Nick Smith, his son-in-law.
Previous to coming to KANSAS he
had been in the milling business.
Both the bank and the mill
were among the pioneers in the bust
ness enterprises of central Kansas,
and will stand as monuments to his
energy and faith in the future of this
state, when it was principally the
cattleman's country.
In the early '80's, he with one of
the Lebold's, embarked in business
which was not a paying proposition
and has long since passed out of the
minds of many people. This was
a'he Dundee sugar factory. After
81 lending considerable money and
lbs out two years time this project was
1--WE N up.
u, lring his lifetime he has held
,ositi ons of honor and trust at various
ines, being mayor of the city in
SS1, Turing the small pox epidemic.
He was in his younger days active in
,olitics, being of the democratic
n, but was never candidate
or an off, e, or an Office seeker, al
houeh in 1895 he was nominated as
n elector IN the gold democratic
,cAkaet:
He leaveS surviving him the fol-
wing: His wife, Mrs. Susan Brink
an: his sons r George. vice presi-
mt and manaze of the J. ". Brink
an Co. Bank; o aries ", secretary
che Walnut creA ( Milling Co., and
5S.;s still in scbsoa his daughters,
.. Fred Zutzvez. d MRS. NICK
kh, Miss Lillian, n, 5. ". L. map