Nicholas Linkhauer

Nicholas Linkhauer, assessor of Green Township, was born in the Province of Rhine, Prussia, November 23, 1830, a son of Jacob and Catherine Linkhauer. In 1840, the family consisting of parents and six children immigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans November 4, after a voyage on a sailing vessel of fifty-six days. At New Orleans, they were met by Mr. Linkhauer’s oldest brother, Jacob, who had come over four years before. They spent the winter in New Orleans and in March, 1841, came to Indiana and settled in Carroll County, where the father followed shoemaking at Delphi for four years. He then settled on a heavily timbered farm in the same county, clearing his land with the help of his sons, living there until his death November 7, 1853, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow died August 7, 1862, aged seventy-one years. Of their children, three sons and one daughter are still living – Nicholas, our subject; John, at Memphis, Tennessee; Peter, living in Kansas and Mrs. Mary Mondy, also a resident of Kansas.

Nicholas Linkhauer was united in marriage December 6, 1855, in Carroll County, to Miss Sarah Jane Cline, a native of that county, born December 19, 1836. Her parents, Aaron and Rachel Cline, were pioneers of Carroll County, coming from Kentucky in an early day. Her father died in that county in 1872, aged eighty-four years, the mother dying in 1851, at the age of fifty-six years.

Of the fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Linkhauer ten died in infancy. Of the four children yet living – Mary Catherine is the wife of F. B. Bunger, of Preble County, Ohio; Orro I. is the wife of George Hodge, and is engaged in teaching in Greene Township; Jacob O., also engaged in teaching in Greene Township, was born July 19, 1862 and September 26, 1886, married Hattie Osborn, who was born in Greene Township, Jay County, December 6, 1866, a daughter of Lester and Caroline Osborn; William H., a railroad employee at Indianapolis.

In 1866, Mr. Linkhauer removed with his family from Carroll County to Olmsted County, Minnesota, and there followed farming eight years. He then returned to Indiana and spent almost two years in Wabash and Madison Townships, Jay County. He then went to Union City, Randolph County, Indiana where he kept a hotel a short time.

From 1878 to 1880, he followed farming in Ward Township of the same county, when he settled on his present farm on Section 13, Greene Township in November, 1880. In politics, Mr. Linkhauer is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Linkhauer and their two daughters are members of the Disciple Church.

Biographical && Historical Record of Jay County, Lewis Publishing Company 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox