Dublin Core
Title
Finding Aid of H.K. Brinkman Family records, 2022
Subject
Finding aid of the Peninsula Community Library records collection. Collection is part of the holdings of the Peninsula Community Library.
Description
The H. K. Brinkman Family featured in this collection lived in Old Mission, Michigan. The collection consists mostly of materials relating to the businesses that H.K. started in the mid-1800’s, deeds to the properties that he owned, descendent information, copies of maps of the Old Mission area, documentation of Civil War battles that he participated in and biographical information.
Creator
Morgan, Mary
Source
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Publisher
Peninsula Community Library
Date
2022
Contributor
H. K. Brinkman Family descendant Jacquelyn Field Burns Thomas
Rights
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display or transmit this document.
Relation
Peninsula Community Library records
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Document
Identifier
LHC 008-1pcl-findingaid.pdf
Coverage
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Creator: H. K. Brinkman Family descendant Jacquelyn Field Burns Thomas
Title: H.K. Brinkman Family Records
Inclusive dates: 1828-2021
Bulk dates: 1847-1939
Extent: .5 linear feet
Call number: LHC 008-1 Pcl
Language: Material is in English
Acquisition: Anonymous donation.
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Box 1.
A-V Material: None.
Digital Material: None.
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Processed By: Mary Morgan, 2022
Abstract
The H. K. Brinkman Family featured in this collection lived in Old Mission, Michigan. The collection consists mostly of materials relating to the businesses that H.K. started in the mid-1800’s, deeds to the properties that he owned, descendent information, copies of maps of the Old Mission area, documentation of Civil War battles that he participated in and biographical information.
History
Henry K. Brinkman was born in 1827 in the abbey town of Meinhausen, Germany, which was part of Prussia at that time. An apprenticed shoemaker, he migrated to America in 1847. Over a period of four to five years, he worked his way up from New Orleans, to Detroit, and finally to Old Mission. One of the first European white settlers, he established himself as a businessman, opening a shoe store (~1854), a blacksmith shop and an apple evaporator business (1902). H.K hired Elizabeth Bullen to oversee the apple evaporating operation until 1906, when the building burned down. H.K. was also a fruit farmer, owning over 300 acres, 120 of which he legally acquired in 1854 from Thaddeus Clark. Thaddeus had been granted the land for serving in the military as a soldier in the War of 1812.
In 1854, H.K. married Keziah Colburn Hedges (born 1825 in Walnut Hill, OH) and they had four children together – Alonzo, Theresa, Eugene and Lewis. In 1861 he voluntarily joined the Union Army as a private in the 4th Indiana Light Artillery. He fought in numerous battles, including the March of 1862 in Tennessee and in a battle in Chicamauga, GA in 1863. He was mustered out of service in 1864 with the rank of Artificer. H.K. went on to serve as Treasurer for Peninsula Township (1858) and as President of the Grand Traverse Union Agricultural Society (1883).
Other Old Mission notable names associated with the Brinkman family, through marriages, include Tompkins, Parmalee, and Wait.
The items in this collection were copied from the archives held by Jacquelyn Field Burns Thomas, who is the great, great granddaughter of H.K. Brinkman. Jackie’s historical narratives can be found throughout the collection.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of historical materials, including photographs, land titles, newspaper clippings, letters, family tree information, maps, letterheads, patents, and records of various Civil War battles.
Container No. Description
Box 1 Folder 1:
Overview and photos
Brinkman overview from the Dougherty House Exhibit.
Photos including H.K. Brinkman with family, Helen Marie Brinkman Field, Edith Tompkins Brinkman LaBatt .
Folders 2 – 5:
H. K. Brinkman’s businesses
Apple Evaporator – photos of the building and of the employees, letters – one from H.K. Brinkman permitting Elizabeth Bullen onto the premises for the purpose of evaporating apples, one from E. Bullen’s great grandson.
Blacksmith Shop – photo of watercolor of building, photo of shop caving in from the snow, letter from Lewis Brinkman
Shoe Store – two photos of shoe store.
Business Letterhead – various from Pine Grove Farm.
Folders 6 - 8:
Family Buildings
Barn – letter from Lewis Brinkman, photos of the barn circa 2000’s
Cabin – built (1923) for Oliver and Edith Brinkman, various photos
House Fire – photos of the house w H.K. Brinkman and family, various letters regarding insurance, Record Eagle article.
Folders 9 - 12:
Descendants and Obituaries
Meinhausen – historical narrative on H. K.’s birth and youth
Descendants – family tree, twelve typewritten pages of family detail, various handwritten notes.
Obituaries – Keziah Brinkman, Lewis Brinkman, Eugene Brinkman, article about ceremony to place D.A.R. bronze marker on Eliza Elizabeth Colburn’s grave.
Sprague’s info – handwritten notes gleaned from Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan : embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, together with interesting reminiscences (copyright 1903).
Folder 13:
Land Deeds – 1856 land deed granting Thaddeus Clark 120 acre in Old Mission – transferred to Henry Brinkman. Multiple 1862 deeds, 1863 deed, 1864 deed, 1871 deed, 1868 mortgage.
Folder 14:
Maps – various maps of Old Mission and the northern part of Old Mission Peninsula.
Folder 15:
Civil War
Overview – various narratives from Jackie Thomas regarding H. K.’s time in the civil war and correspondence letter with Thomas Jenkins, Secretary/Graves Registration Officer.
Battles – information from the National Park Service, Ancenstry.com and americancivilwar.com on the battles that H.K. was involved in.
Folder 16:
Ram Story – narrative from Jackie Thomas regarding an incident that occurred when Mr. Tompkins was attacked by a ram in Mr. Brinkman’s plum orchard (early 1900’s).
Folder 17:
Boats – pictures of various boats in Old Mission harbor (Haserot Beach).
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Creator: H. K. Brinkman Family descendant Jacquelyn Field Burns Thomas
Title: H.K. Brinkman Family Records
Inclusive dates: 1828-2021
Bulk dates: 1847-1939
Extent: .5 linear feet
Call number: LHC 008-1 Pcl
Language: Material is in English
Acquisition: Anonymous donation.
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Box 1.
A-V Material: None.
Digital Material: None.
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Processed By: Mary Morgan, 2022
Abstract
The H. K. Brinkman Family featured in this collection lived in Old Mission, Michigan. The collection consists mostly of materials relating to the businesses that H.K. started in the mid-1800’s, deeds to the properties that he owned, descendent information, copies of maps of the Old Mission area, documentation of Civil War battles that he participated in and biographical information.
History
Henry K. Brinkman was born in 1827 in the abbey town of Meinhausen, Germany, which was part of Prussia at that time. An apprenticed shoemaker, he migrated to America in 1847. Over a period of four to five years, he worked his way up from New Orleans, to Detroit, and finally to Old Mission. One of the first European white settlers, he established himself as a businessman, opening a shoe store (~1854), a blacksmith shop and an apple evaporator business (1902). H.K hired Elizabeth Bullen to oversee the apple evaporating operation until 1906, when the building burned down. H.K. was also a fruit farmer, owning over 300 acres, 120 of which he legally acquired in 1854 from Thaddeus Clark. Thaddeus had been granted the land for serving in the military as a soldier in the War of 1812.
In 1854, H.K. married Keziah Colburn Hedges (born 1825 in Walnut Hill, OH) and they had four children together – Alonzo, Theresa, Eugene and Lewis. In 1861 he voluntarily joined the Union Army as a private in the 4th Indiana Light Artillery. He fought in numerous battles, including the March of 1862 in Tennessee and in a battle in Chicamauga, GA in 1863. He was mustered out of service in 1864 with the rank of Artificer. H.K. went on to serve as Treasurer for Peninsula Township (1858) and as President of the Grand Traverse Union Agricultural Society (1883).
Other Old Mission notable names associated with the Brinkman family, through marriages, include Tompkins, Parmalee, and Wait.
The items in this collection were copied from the archives held by Jacquelyn Field Burns Thomas, who is the great, great granddaughter of H.K. Brinkman. Jackie’s historical narratives can be found throughout the collection.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of historical materials, including photographs, land titles, newspaper clippings, letters, family tree information, maps, letterheads, patents, and records of various Civil War battles.
Container No. Description
Box 1 Folder 1:
Overview and photos
Brinkman overview from the Dougherty House Exhibit.
Photos including H.K. Brinkman with family, Helen Marie Brinkman Field, Edith Tompkins Brinkman LaBatt .
Folders 2 – 5:
H. K. Brinkman’s businesses
Apple Evaporator – photos of the building and of the employees, letters – one from H.K. Brinkman permitting Elizabeth Bullen onto the premises for the purpose of evaporating apples, one from E. Bullen’s great grandson.
Blacksmith Shop – photo of watercolor of building, photo of shop caving in from the snow, letter from Lewis Brinkman
Shoe Store – two photos of shoe store.
Business Letterhead – various from Pine Grove Farm.
Folders 6 - 8:
Family Buildings
Barn – letter from Lewis Brinkman, photos of the barn circa 2000’s
Cabin – built (1923) for Oliver and Edith Brinkman, various photos
House Fire – photos of the house w H.K. Brinkman and family, various letters regarding insurance, Record Eagle article.
Folders 9 - 12:
Descendants and Obituaries
Meinhausen – historical narrative on H. K.’s birth and youth
Descendants – family tree, twelve typewritten pages of family detail, various handwritten notes.
Obituaries – Keziah Brinkman, Lewis Brinkman, Eugene Brinkman, article about ceremony to place D.A.R. bronze marker on Eliza Elizabeth Colburn’s grave.
Sprague’s info – handwritten notes gleaned from Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan : embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, together with interesting reminiscences (copyright 1903).
Folder 13:
Land Deeds – 1856 land deed granting Thaddeus Clark 120 acre in Old Mission – transferred to Henry Brinkman. Multiple 1862 deeds, 1863 deed, 1864 deed, 1871 deed, 1868 mortgage.
Folder 14:
Maps – various maps of Old Mission and the northern part of Old Mission Peninsula.
Folder 15:
Civil War
Overview – various narratives from Jackie Thomas regarding H. K.’s time in the civil war and correspondence letter with Thomas Jenkins, Secretary/Graves Registration Officer.
Battles – information from the National Park Service, Ancenstry.com and americancivilwar.com on the battles that H.K. was involved in.
Folder 16:
Ram Story – narrative from Jackie Thomas regarding an incident that occurred when Mr. Tompkins was attacked by a ram in Mr. Brinkman’s plum orchard (early 1900’s).
Folder 17:
Boats – pictures of various boats in Old Mission harbor (Haserot Beach).