Henry Roelif Brinkerhoff was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania on September 23, 1787. During his childhood, his family moved to Cayuga County, New York, in 1793. He attended the local public schools, entered the military, and earned a measure of respect when he commanded a company of militia in the War of 1812, under the command of General Stephen Van Rensselaer. During the Battle of Queenston Heights, in the major skirmish during that war, Brinkerhoff distinguished himself through his bravery. Queenston Heights is located on the Canadian side of the Niagara River separating New York State from Ontario, Canada.
Following the War of 1812, Brinkerhoff apparently remained in the New York Militia, and reached the rank of major general in the New York Militia in 1824. In his capacity as a major general, Brinkerhoff commanded the military escort for General Lafayette in his travels through the State of New York.
In the political sphere, Brinkerhoff served as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1828 and 1829. Brinkerhoff moved to Huron County, Ohio in 1837, and from there he was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress and served in the United States Congress from March 4, 1843 until his death on April 30, 1844.
Henry Roelif Brinkerhoff was reportedly a cousin, but more likely an uncle, because he was 23 years older, to Jacob Brinkerhof, a United States Congressman, also from Ohio, who served in the United States Congress from 1843 until 1847. Note that the two Brinkerhoffs entered the United States Congress at the same time. Henry Brinkerhoff was interred in Pioneer Cemetery in Plymouth, Richland County, Ohio.
REFERENCES
Henry R. Brinkerhoff, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_R_Brinkerhoff
Brinkerhoff, Henry Roelif, [1787-1844], http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000837
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