John Phillipp Rhein
John Philipp Rhein, proprietor of the Island house near the German Protestant cemetery, was born in Germany April 15, 1828. He came to America and landed in New Orleans in 1851, thence to Cincinnati the same year. Coming here in meagre circumstances, he worked as a hostler, then as an omnibus driver from Cincinnati to Mt. Auburn, which he continued some four years, when he began vegetable gardening near his present home. Here he gardened for some seven years, when he and his brother Jacob started in the omnibus business and purchased four omnibuses and horses for the same, to run between Cincinnati, Mt. Auburn and suburbs. This business increased until they had seven omnibuses in the line. Doing a good business in 1872 Mr. Rhein retired and entered his present vocation. He was was married to Mrs. J. Bessemer, a daughter of John Seefried, who was born in Germany, and came to America and landed in Philadelphia, thence to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade as a locksmith; he then moved to the farm, where he died respected and honored, one of the oldest pioneers.
From History of Hamilton county, Ohio, Henry & Kate Ford, L. A. Williams & Co., Publishers, 1881