roots.

This week I randomly have gotten really into researching the family trees of my family and Nate's family. It's fascinating! Here is what I found out so far about Nate's maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Georg Link.

Georg(e) Link (1829–1908) and George Link, Jr. (1863–1913)

1829
 • Born in Thalmessing, Bavaria, Germany

1851
 • Graduated Lutheran Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana
 • Ordained on August 24 at Salem Lutheran Church, Black Jack, Mo. by Dr. W. Sihler
 • Began a 52-year pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

1863
 • George Link, Jr. is born

1868
 • Served as clerk of the 8th Ward in Fort Wayne, Indiana

31 Oct 1860–1873
 • Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Lebanon in Wisconsin

1873
 • Moved to St. Louis, Missouri
 • Pastor at U.A.C. German - Zion Church at Warren & 15th Street in St. Louis, Mo.

1877
 • Compiled/published Luther’s Family Devotions in German

1881
 • George Link, Jr. graduated Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana

1886
 • April 18—George Link (Jr.), a candidate for graduation at Concordia Seminary, became the first resident pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church of Mt. Clemens. He opened a parochial school there.
 • Article reported that at this time, George was the son of a pastor of St. John Church in Fraser, Michigan.

1888–1892
 • Pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois (2nd & Monroe St)
Architect of building was Link’s son-in-law, Charles Frederick May of St. Louis

1890

Georg Link
from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Springfield, Illinois
circa 1888–1892

• George Link, Jr. called to pastor in La Porte, Indiana

June 1892–1901
 • Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Illinois

1901
 • Installed Charles Stransen, his son-in-law, as pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, Ill.

??
 • Served as assistant to his son, Rev. George Link, Jr. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in La Porte, Indiana.

1903
 • George Link, Jr’s voice began to fail from throat difficulty

1904
 • George Link, Jr. left the pulpit and entered secular/political life

1908
 • 21 September: Died in Springfield, Illinois. Laid to rest in Oak Ridge.

1913
 • George Link, Jr. dies in La Porte, Indiana

Georg Link (Sr.) married Hannah Lange (1835-1918). They are buried together in Springfield, Illinois.

We ordered a translated copy (German to English) of the book Georg Link compiled, Luther's Family Devotions (1877). Pretty cool that Nate has two strong German theologians in his family.

Click to view larger image
(my work in progress from Ancestry.com)