JOSIAH HANSON LINK

Critically ill the last several days and unable to leave his home for several weeks, Josiah Hanson Link, 88, retired, died at 11:30 o’clock last night at the home of his niece, Mrs. Charles O. Findlay, 646 Mulberry avenue.

He suffered ailments due to his extreme age.

Funeral services will be held at 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon at the Findlay home, with the Rev. J. T. Carter, Episcopal minister, in charge. Interment will be made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Mr. Link was a member of oldline families in Harrison county, but was a native of Missouri, having been born at Jacksonville, that state, December 16, 1843. His father was Edward Jackson Link, a native of Bridgeport, and his mother, Anna Maria Adams Link, was born in Clarksburg. His parents were married here in 1836. He was named for his grandfather, Josiah Hanson Adams, who was identified with early history of Adamston, a thriving suburban section of Clarksburg, which was named in his honor. Mr. Link was the last of a family of five children.

One of his sisters, Miss Emma L. Link, married Lewis Haymond, a son of the late Col. Luther Haymond. They were the parents of Mrs. Flora Findlay, wife of Charles O. Findlay, at whose home he had lived many years.

Enters Dental Office

When Mr. Link was about 5 years old, the family moved back to West Virginia and he had lived here ever since. The Links lived at various points in the city until 1859 when they moved to property on Main street, which the head of the family acquired. They resided there until the property was purchased a number of years ago and made a part of the Watts- Sartor – Lear department store site. He attended school here, and when the Civil war began he entered the dental offices of a Dr. Bartlett in Parkersburg, where he remained some time. Returning to Clarksburg, he associated himself with the office of Dr. John M. Leasure, of Morgantown, a widely known dentist of that period.

After the war had gone on a while, Mr. Link entered the Union army as a wagon master and was all through the valley of Virginia with Gen. Franz Sigel. At another time in the war, he had charge of a corps of men who took care of army horses at the old corral east of Elk creek here. He also rode as a courier on the lines between the seat of army supplies here and army forces in the interior of the state. He used two mounts either way between Weston and Jacksonville.

At the close of the war, Mr. Link engaged in oil development, first at Petroleum and then at Burning Springs. He also drilled wells at White, in the same section. Later he had charge of the cut-off saw mill of the late R. T. Lowndes on what is now Ferry street, this city, working there four or five years.

Wool Buyer

Later he rode a half dozen counties, buying wool from farmers and often carried considerable money to pay them in cash. He then became identified with the firm of Smith, Brown and Company and accompanied the late Beeson H. Brown on wool buying trips.

Although retiring twenty years ago from active pursuits, Mr. Link did some work about the home premises every day to keep fit, and was in perfect health until a few weeks ago. It was his custom to come up town every day.

Five feet eleven and one-half inches tall, Mr. Link was as straight as an arrow in appearance, and although he did not need it he carried a cane. He was as supple as a man of half his age. His personal appearance, with a long, white beard, was strikingly handsome. He was widely known and had a host of friends.

Besides the niece at whose home he died, surviving relatives include Mrs. Frank M. Atterholt, of New York city, a great-niece; Mrs. T. Moore Jackson, 528 West Pike street, a cousin; and more distant connections in Springfield, Ill.; and Keyser, this state.

Clarksburg, (W. Va.) Exponent., THURSDAY DEC. 24. 1931

JOSIAH HANSON LINK

Funeral services will be held at 4 o’clock this afternoon from the home of his niece, Mrs. Charles O. Findlay, 646 Mulberry avenue, for Josian Hanson Link, 88, retired, who died at 11:30 o’clock Tuesday night of ailments due to his advanced age. The Rev. J. T. Carter, pastor of the Christ Episcopal church, will officiate and interment will be made in the Odd Fellows cemetery.

Pall bearers will be Wilbur E. Hursey, Leon Hoffheimer, Henry Martin, Claude Gore, A. W. Rapp and Edgar Needham.

Mr. Link was a member of one of the oldest families in the county and was widely known in several counties of the north-central section of the state. He had been critically ill for several weeks and his death was not unexpected.

Clarksburg, (W. Va.) Telegram., December 24, 1931

JOSIAH HANSON LINK

Funeral services for Josiah H. Link, 88, who died at 11:30 p. m. Tuesday of diseases incident to advanced age, will be held at the home of his niece, Mrs .Charles O. Findley, 646 Mulberry avenue, at 4 p. m. today.

Interment will be made in the Odd Fellows cemetery with the Rev. J. T. Carter, pastor of the Christ Episcopal church, officiating. Pall bearers are Wilbur E. Hursey, Leon Hoffheimer, Henry Martin, Claude Gore, A. W. Rapp and Edgar Needham.