John W. Linck
John W. Linck, attorney-at-law, was born in Jennings County, Indiana, December 7, 1843. He was the son of Frederick E. an Esther (Todd) Linck, who were natives, the father of Germany, and the mother of Ireland.
His father came to the United states when sixteen years old. He was a farmer and teamster.
John W. Linck, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools and at Asbury College -now DePauw University -at Greencastle, Indiana, which he attended for two years after leaving the army.
On June 19, 1861, he joined Co. K, 13th Indiana Infantry Volunteers, as a drummer boy; was out in the field in active service, over three years, in that capacity, and was in all of the battles in which his regiment fought during that time.
He began the study of law in 1866, under the Hon. William Hale, of Iowa. he attended the lectures at the law school at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee. He returned to Madison, Indiana, and continued the study of law in the office of Messrs. Allison & Friedley, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. During the time of study in the office of Allison & Friedley, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served as such, for the double purpose of continuing his studies and of maintenance, as he was quite poor. He was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, which office he held for two years, and was also City Attorney for two years. He was appointed by Gov. Barker, Prosecutor of the Criminal Court of Jefferson County, upon its organization, and was afterward elected, and held the office for nearly four years, or so long as the court was in existence.
He was United states Commissioner from 1874 to 1877.
He was director of the Indiana State Prison, South, for four years, up to 1880, when he resigned, before the expiration of his commission, in order to accept the place of elector for the Fourth Congressional District of Indiana on the Garfield ticket.
From 1881 to 1885, he was postmaster at Madison. In 1886 he was elected as Representative from Jefferson County to the State Legislature. While in the House of Representatives he was chairman of the committee of public buildings; chairman of the special election committee; also chairman of one branch of the committee on prisons. He was re-elected in 1888, Representative from Jefferson County on the Republican ticket. In politics he is a Republican.
He was married in 1868, to Miss Julia LaCroix, of Nashville, Tennessee, who died in 1870, leaving one child, Stella Esther, and was again married to Miss Mina Frevert, who died in 1884, leaving one child, Lizzette.
Mr. Linck is a member of the G. A. R., and the order of Masons, of the I. O. O. F., Red Men, of the Grand Lodge of U. O. and K of G. R. He was an original stockholder in the Madison Woolen Mills. He assisted in organizing the Madison Stove Foundry and was its first secretary. He was also one of the original stockholder sin the Cotton Mill. He is a member of Fire Co. No. 1., of Madison; and a member of the M. and M. Club, Board of Trade. Mr. Linck owns 160 acres of land in Jefferson County, Indiana, and a fine orange grove in Florida, together with several houses in the city of Madison.
Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.
