Background articles

J. ALBERT HYINK. J. Albert Hyink, who conducts a retail harness shop at Nichols, has built up a profitable business in this connection. His birth occurred in Muscatine, Iowa, on the 24th of September, 1879, his parents being G. H. and Frederika ( Korshot ) Hyink, both of whom were natives of Winterswijk, Holland. The father was born on the 9th of August, 1836, while the mother's birth occurred in 1840. They crossed tha Atlantic to the United States in 1857, locating in New York, where their marriage was celebrated six months later. G. H. Hyink operated a rented farm in the Empire state for a few years and then came to Muscatine,Iowa, here entering the service of the S. G. Stein Lumber Company, in whose employ he continued during the remainder of his active business career. The last three years of his life were spent in honorable retirement, his demise occurring of the 5th of October, 1910. His remains were interred in the Greenwood cemetery. His widow, who makes her home in Muscatine, has now attained the age of seventy-one years. Their union was blessed with two sons and three daughters, the record of whom is as follows: Jennie, whose birth occurred on the 29th of August, 1865, is the wife of William Van Zyl, a merchant of Muscatine. William who was born May 1, 1867, wedded Miss Mary Swain of this county and makes his home in Muscatine. Hattie, whose natal year was 1873, gave her hand in marriage to M. Armstrong of Muscatine and died on the 5th of October, 1896, being laid to rest in the Greenwood cemetery. J. Albert, of this review, is the next in order of birth. Hattie died but six months old. J. Albert Hyink remained at home with his parents until twenty-four years of age when he was married and established a home of his own. At the early age of thirteen, however, he entered the employ of the Van Nostrand Saddlery Company of Muscatine as a leather cutter, remaining with that concern for seventeen years. On the expiration of that period, feeling that his capital and experience justified him in embarking in business on his own account, he opened a retail harness shop in Nichols and has since conducted the same with excellent success. On the 1st of September, 1903, Mr. Hyink was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Borgstedt, a native of Concordia, Lafayette county, Missouri, amd a daughter of Frederick and Henrietta ( Kresse ) Borgstedt, both of whom were born in Germany. They came to the United States at an early day, taking up their abode in Missouri, where the father passed away in February, 1893. Soon afterward the mother came to Muscatine, Iowa, where she is now living at the age of sixty-four years. Her children were fourteen in number, namely; Amos, who is deceased; John, living in Muscatine; Joseph W., who is a resident of Nichols, Iowa; William, Henry, Daniel S. and Otis, all of whom live in Muscatine; Mrs. Hyink; Lydia, the wife of Leo Barry, of Muscatine; Bertha, who is at home with her widowed mother; Samuel, who passed away; Louis, a twin brother of Samuel, who makes his home in Muscatine; and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hyink have one child, Clyde H., whose natal day was October 30, 1904. Two years after her marriage Mrs. Hyink fell a victim to tuberculosis and in an effort to regain her health she spent s couple of years in Salt Lake City and Denver with her husband. The change of climate proved beneficial and her trouble has not returned. In politics Mr. Hyink is a republican but his aspirations have not been in the line of office holding. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Muscatine, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Baptist church of Muscatine, to which his wife also belongs. The high principles of manhood which have ever governed his dealings with his fellowmen have won for him the unqualified respect, confidence and good will with all of whom he has come in contact.