My Genealogy Hound

S. M. Link, president of the First National Bank, was born and reared in Carrollton, Ill., up to the age of twenty-one years. He then went to Leavenworth, Kas., and hired to Majs. Russell & Waddell, with whom he remained part of 1858 and 1859. The Pike’s Peak gold fever having reached the States, he with his father and brother rigged up an outfit, and set their faces westward over the then barren wilds of Western Kansas and Colorado. They reached the spot where Denver now stands only to learn that although gold had been found it was not in paying quantities. Thousands of ragged, wretched, starving, gold hunters were leaving daily for the States. However not to be so easily discouraged he with some others pushed on to the mountains to within a short distance of where the mountains are covered with perpetual snow. Here were newly discovered gold mines, called Gregory Diggings, which were yielding large returns for the labor bestowed. They went on a couple of miles above where they found good mines, and our subject was one of the organizers of Nevada District, being elected the first recorder and secretary of that district. He was afterward elected judge of the miner’s court. He returned to Missouri in 1861, and married Mary A. Link, a native of Illinois. Taking his young wife with him he returned to Colorado, and introduced her to a very nice log cabin perched upon and partly in the side of a mountain. From the front door could be seen a long line of similar or less pretentious dwellings dotting the mountain sides. In the gulch or valley were located the rockers, long toms, sluices and quartz mills for separating the gold from the dirt and quartz rock. To the west the summits of the mountain ranges in crescent shape could always be seen covered with snow. Mr. Link followed mining and milling with moderate success until 1866, when, having sold out, he returned to the States, located at Kirksville in 1867, and engaged in the grain, stock and implement business where he had a very large trade in the different lines. He has three sons and four daughters, one of the latter being deceased. The grandfather, Christian Link, was born in Germany. He resided in Virginia and Kentucky, was married in the latter State and afterward moved with his wife and several children to the almost wilderness of Illinois, where he died greatly respected by all who knew him. Lewis W., the father of S. M., was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in the year 1807, and came to Illinois with his parents. He was reared in that State, and married Hannah Crane. He was a member of the Illinois Legislature for some terms with Moses Lemon, Peter Cartwright and other early pioneers when the capital was at Vandalia, Ill. After occupying prominent positions of public trust for many years he moved to Kirksville in 1866, where he served as justice during nearly all the time of his residence until his death in 1883. His wife is still living at Kirksville, and is the mother of nine children, six of whom still survive. S. M. Link, the subject of this sketch, for twenty-one years has been actively engaged in business in Kirksville, and throughout his entire career has never been accused of an act of injustice or oppression. One of his chief virtues is his great conservatism. Passion or fanaticism never rule him; when others become excited his self-possession never deserts him, but mild and gentle in the face of excitement, he curbs the reckless and quiets the angry, by the wisdom of his counsel, and the dignity and calmness of his own conduct. A Republican in politics, he conceded that patriotism and love of country may animate others. A Baptist in religion, he recognizes that excellence and Christian virtue exist in other denominations. Prosperous and comfortable, he has always heeded the call of distress, and smoothed the pillow of the sick and unfortunate. In a word, Mr. Link justly bears the reputation of being one of the wisest, most level-headed, and best balanced business men in North Missouri. Quiet, modest and honest, he would be a good man and a good citizen in any community.