M. R. Sinks, a successful merchant of Jefferson City, Mo., was born in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1843, and was there reared and educated. He attended the Ohio Western University at Delaware, and was reared with a mercantile experience with the exception of a few years spent in the drug business and seven years with a newspaper. He was at Peru, Ind., for five years, publishing the Peru Republican, which was one of the best county papers in the State. He afterward published the Connersville Times for two years, and in 1878 came to Jefferson City, Mo., and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has continued up to the present time. He came to Cole County with the intention of farming, but, his wife being an invalid, preferred to remain in the city. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, and was in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. In 1865 be was married to Miss Belle Stiles, who bore him four children, all of whom are deceased. He was one of the organizers of the Chautauqua Club, and was its secretary during its entire existence. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., a Select Knight, and he and wife have been members of the Methodist Church since childhood. Mr. Sinks' parents, Randolph and Eleanor H. (Clark) Sinks, were also natives of Clermont County, Ohio. The Clark family came originally from England, the Sinks family being among the early settlers of Ohio, Clermont County. The father of our subject was a merchant at Bethel, Ohio, for over forty-five years. He still survives, and is in his eightieth year, having been retired from active business for fifteen years. His wife is deceased. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).