F. J. RHEINER is prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Southwestern Texas. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the crowning points of his success and his connection with business enterprises has been of decided advantage to this section of the state, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. He is now acting as cashier of Uvalde National Bank and the able manner in which he meets his business duties is indication of his capacity and ability. Mr. Rheiner is one of the native sons of Uvalde Co., having been born on the 24th of February, 1877, and reared upon his father's ranch. His parents were Peter and Mary (Santleben) Rheiner, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Texas. The father belonged to a prominent old family of the land of the Alps and there acquired a liberal education in his native language. He also attained considerable knowledge of the English tongue, which he could speak with fluency when he came to the United States at the age of eighteen years. He crossed the Atlantic in order to become free from the yoke of monarchial oppression, making the journey to the new world in company with a young man, Mr. Whetstine. Their destination was California and they had in mind the intention of engaging in the sheep industry, but after arriving in the Golden state and spending some time prospecting they decided that it would not be a good place to locate. Favorable reports which Mr. Rheiner heard of Southwestern Texas led him to leave California and make his way into this district, arriving at Utopia in Uvalde county in the fall of 1855. He had brought some money with him from his old home in Switzerland and being favorably impressed with this country he, with a companion, went to Mexico, where each man bought two hundred and fifty head of ewes which they brought to Utopia, and thus he made his start in the sheep industry. Mr. Whetstine came with him but each man engaged in business alone. Mr. Rheiner soon got his ranch established and owing to his vigilance and care and his knowledge of the business he rapidly succeeded and his flock increased in numbers. He afterward joined with other settlers in making raids against the Indians who stole the stock. Mr. Rheiner's stock, however, could not be run off, but the Indians often killed and ate one of his sheep. The few pioneers lived almost as one family, for they were mutually dependent upon one another for protection and Mr. Rheiner was ever ready to join in the defense of his neighbors and take part in the raids after the red men. He was never wounded and he continued to engage in the sheep industry, his flocks increasing and his success being thereby augmented. With great love for his adopted country, in 1862 he arranged with other parties to care for his flocks while he should go off to the war. He volunteered with Captain Robinson's company of the Thirty-third Texas Cavalry, which was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department and was actively engaged in military service in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He did much scout duty on the border and along the gulf coast and a detachment of soldiers invaded Mexico after some renegades. The Federal gunboats at the mouth of the Rio Grande, however, cut them off and the troops became divided. In a skirmish Mr. Rheiner sustained a wound through the shoulder and from the effects of this he received an honorable discharge in 1863. Returning to his home and his ranch, he resumed control of his flocks and soon afterward was married to a Miss Watson, by whom he had two children. Later she was accidentally drowned and a few years afterward Mr. Rheiner wedded Miss Mary Santleben, a native of Texas, whose father Christian Santleben, was a pioneer of Medina county, this state. He was a stonemason by trade and became a prominent rancher and farmer of Medina county. Of German birth, he displayed many sterling characteristics of his German ancestry and successfully managed his business affairs, being well known at the same time as a worthy citizen devoted to the general welfare. Both he and his wife died in Medina county. In the Santleben family were the following named: Mary, who became Mrs. Rheiner; August, of San Antonio; and Ferdinand, a prominent cattle rancher of Uvalde county. Both were reared on the frontier and were identified with the work of early settlement and improvement. A brother of Peter Rheiner came to America after he had crossed the Atlantic and settled at San Antonio, where he reared a family of three sons, who yet reside in that city or vicinity. Peter Rheiner continued in the sheep ranching business and bought large tracts of land which he held during his life. He possessed keen business discernment and enterprise, was a good financier and created a large estate. He loved his adopted country and was one of its most worthy citizens. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his allegiance and his fidelity, elected him to the office of county commissioner and he filled other local positions. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He died in the year 1879, while his wife, surviving him for several years, passed away in 1884. Their children were: William, now living in Arizona; Etta, the wife of Judge Garner, now in the United States Congress; Peter, who died at the age of thirteen years; August D., of Uvalde; and F. J. F. J. Rheiner has spent his entire life in Uvalde county and here acquired a liberal education. He began his studies in the common schools and later attended a private school of San Antonio and also a Catholic school of that city. He was likewise a student in the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Auburn, Alabama. His first efforts in an independent business career were in the line of stock raising. He had a ranch and cattle and conducted the business for two years with considerable success. He then disposed of his ranch and stock and in 1899 assisted in organizing the Uvalde National Bank, of which he became one of the original stockholders. This bank was the outgrowth of the private bank of Collier & Company and was capitalized for seventy-five thousand dollars, while at the present time there is a surplus of twenty-five thousand dollars with additional liability of stockholders to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, making a total of two hundred thousand dollars. Upon the organization of the bank Mr. Rheiner was made cashier, which position he yet fills, while W. W. Collier was the first president. Upon his retirement J. F. Simpson became president and since his death J. M. Kincaid has been president. With these exceptions there have been few changes in the offices. The bank has always had a strong force of officials and is among the solid and reliable financial institutions of Southwestern Texas. The officers at the present time are: J. M. Kincaid, president; J. A. Mangum, vice-president; and F. J. Rheiner, cashier. A general banking business is carried on in accordance with modern ideas of financial transactions and Mr. Rheiner gives his entire attention to the bank, carefully guarding its interests and doing all in his power to promote its growth and success. In April, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of F. J. Rheiner and Miss Mittie Davenport, of Sabinal. She was born in this county in 1878, her parents being Jack and Mary (Binyon) Davenport, both representatives of prominent pioneer families. Her father was born in Missouri and came to Uvalde with the first pioneer settlers. He helped to drive out the wild beasts and hostile red men and to sow the seeds of the present civilization and progress. For some time he engaged in cattle raising and he yet resides at Sabinal, being a worthy and esteemed citizen of that locality. He had five children: Ed, a farmer; Robert, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Trinidad, Colorado; Oscar, a rancher; Miss Mittie Rheiner; and Ray, who is a bookkeeper in the Uvalde National Bank. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Rheiner has been blessed with two children: Ralph, born in May, 1900; and Jack, on the 11th of February, 1906. Mrs. Rheiner belongs to the Christian church and Mr. Rheiner is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His entire life having been passed in the county, he is well know to many of its settlers because of his long residence here as well as by reason of his connection with important business interests. He is wholly worthy the respect that is everywhere tendered him, for his name is synonymous with honorable dealing and with all that is elevating and beneficial to the city and the individual. from A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago, 1907. Vol. II, pp. 252-254.