GEORGE W. FINK. - Through a long period George W. Fink was successfully engaged in business in Sangamon county as a manufacturer of carriages and wagons at Pleasant Plains. He conducted his factory for thirty-five years, it being one of the leading industrial concerns of the town. Enterprise and thrift brought to him a good financial return for his labors, and now in the possession of a comfortable competence he is living retired. Mr. Fink dates his residence in Sangamon county from 1855. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 2d of February, 1825. The family is of German descent and when voyages across the Atlantic were made in sailing vessels his ancestors crossed the briny deep to Maryland. The grandfather of our subject was John Fink, whose birth occurred in that state. George Fink, Sr., the father, was born in Maryland in 1796, and wedded Miss Mary Way, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia. As civilization advanced westward and new regions were opened up for the use of the white race Mr. Fink made his way toward the setting sun, becoming a resident of Muskingum county, Ohio, about 1824. This was during the epoch of its primitive development. He turned his attention to merchandising, carrying on business there until his death, which resulted from an accident in 1833. His wife survived him and with her family came to the west, spending her last days in Pleasant Plains, where her death occurred in 1885, at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years.

George W. Fink was reared to manhood in Ohio and in his youth he gave his attention to business cares and duties, largely to the exclusion of opportunities for the acquirement of an education. He learned the trade of carriage-making in Circleville, Ohio, and afterward followed that pursuit in Lexington, Kentucky, for three or four years. he then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained for about a year, after which he returned to Ohio. In 1855, however, he became a resident of Sangamon county, Illinois, and establishing his home in Pleasant Plains, he started a factory here for the manufacture of wagons, carriages and plows. the excellence of his workmanship, the durability of his vehicles and farm implements and his honorable business methods soon secured for him a creditable patronage and afterward, in addition to his manufacturing interests, he carried a stock of agricultural implements and built up a good trade in that line. Year by year he added to his income and became the owner of a good farm of three hundred and thirty-three acres near the town, a quarter section of which was left to his wife by her father. He also bought and improved town property, having residence and business blocks. His judicious investments in real estate added to his income, while his careful conduct of business affairs made him a prosperous resident of this locality. On the 4th of May, 1875, Mr. Fink was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Hayes, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of A. W. Hayes, one of the first settlers of Sangamon county, coming here from the Keystone state in 1848. He settled near Pleasant Plains, where he opened up a farm of six hundred and forty acres and thereon reared his family. Mrs. Fink is a sister of Mrs. Dr. Atherton and Mrs. Perry Smith, of Pleasant Plains. Unto our subject and his wife have been born three children: Bertha H., now Mrs. Edward Hurt, of Springfield; Edward A., who is engaged in the newspaper business; and Frank C., who is now pursuing a course of medicine in the Washington University.

Mr. Fink has ever been loyal to his honest convictions and gives his political allegiance to the Democracy. On its ticket he has been elected to several local offices and served for one year on the board of county supervisors. he was elected and served for five or six years as justice of the peace and has also been collector, overseer and township clerk. He is interested in the intellectual development of this community and to this end has always advocated the establishment of good schools and the employment of competent teachers. His wife is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Forty-eight years cover the period of his residence in Sangamon county and during this time many great changes have occurred. Substantial progress and improvement are causes dear to his heart and whenever he has felt that he could promote the public improvement he has co-operated with his fellow men to this end. His business record is creditable and for many years he was a leading representative of industrial interests in Pleasant Plains, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest.