My Genealogy Hound

P. M. Fink, a prosperous merchant of Indian Springs, Mo., was born on January 13, 1848, in Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio. His parents were David P. and Elizabeth (Gangloff) Fink. David P. Fink was born in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, in 1808. He was of German descent, his grandfather having been born in Prussia, from which country he came to the United States when a young man. Elizabeth Gangloff was born in 1810 in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and came to the United States with her parents, settling in Ohio. She and David P. Fink were married at Somerset, Ohio. He was a farmer, and purchased 220 acres of land near Piqua, Ohio, upon which he resided until his children were grown. Renting his farm in 1868 he removed to Piqua, where he remained retired from business until his death in September, 1879. His widow still survives, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Cornelia Matern, of Piqua. Both parents always took an active interest in religious and educational matters and were members of the Catholic Church. They had nine children born to them, six boys and three girls, all of whom grew to be men and women except one. They are John N., George (who died when six years of age), Henry D., Cornelia F. (widow of J. Matern, and mother of two children, John and Elizabeth), August C. F. (who served in the Federal army as a member of Company D, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteers), Philomena A. (Mrs. Adam Peffer), P. M., Angela E. (Mrs. John Reasonbeck) and Joseph R. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he went to Dresden, Ohio, and learned the coach-making trade. After completing his trade he worked at it until March, 1870, when he removed to Bates County, Mo., and engaged in farming. He remained there engaged in the latter occupation and working at his trade occasionally until 1874, at which time he removed to Vernon County, Mo., where he was engaged in farming until 1881. He then came to Indian Springs and engaged in merchandising, and by close attention to business has built up a good trade. On November 3, 1874, he wedded Lucretia Hoover, who was born on January 7, 1852, in Hardin County, Ky. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and her grandparents of Virginia. Her father’s death occurred in 1876, and her mother is now living in Vernon County, Mo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fink are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he being a steward in the church. In politics he endorses the labor movement, and is a member of Indian Springs Assembly, K. of L. Besides a nice home in Indian Springs, Mr. Fink owns a number of lots in the village.