Jacob Fink

Jacob Fink

• Father: Jacob Fink b. 14 July 1820, d. 18 April 1887
• Mother: Barbara Baur b. say 1820

• Jacob Fink was born on 16 January 1846 in Seißen, Württemberg.
• He was baptized/christened on 16 January 1846 in Seißen, Württemberg.
• Jacob Fink arrived circa 1864, from Germany, accompanied his uncle Konrad Fink back to US after one of his trips to Germany.
• Konrad Fink and Margaretha Walter, appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Suspension Bridge, Niagara County, New York. Other members of the household included Jacob Fink, Christian Fink, Christiana Fink, Dora Fink and Margaret Fink.
• He was a carpenter, according to the 1870 census.
• He married Maria Prinzing, daughter of Michael Prinzing and Barbara Miela, circa 1870.
• Jacob Fink appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Suspension Bridge, New York. Other members of the household included Jacob Johann Fink, Gottleib Fink, Konrad Fink and Barbara E. Fink.
• He was a carpenter, according to the 1880 census.
• He was a carpenter, according to the 1900 census.
• Jacob Fink and Maria Prinzing appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York. Other members of the household included Jacob Johann Fink, Gottleib Fink, Barbara E. Fink and Anna M. Fink. Also in the household were four boarders.
• Jacob Fink and Maria Prinzing appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1608 Main Street. Other members of the household included Jacob Johann Fink, Gottleib Fink, Barbara E. Fink, John Joseph DeShinsky and Jack Princing DeShinsky.
• Jacob Fink died on 1 May 1912 at age 66.
• He was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York.
• The following appeared on 20 July 1912 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Jacob Fink Left Estate of $5,000. Judge-Surrogate Charles Hickey in Surrogate's Court at Lockport yesterday granted letters testamentary on the estate of the late Jacob Fink, of Niagara Falls, to Mary Fink, the widow, and Konrad Fink, whose relationship is not stated in the papers. The property of the decedent is given as $5,000 real property and $300 personal property. There are four surviving children, two sons and two daughters, all residing in Niagara Falls.
• A single grave marker identifies the graves of Jacob Fink and Maria Prinzing.
• A biographical sketch of Jacob Fink (1846-1912) appears in Niagara County, New York: One of the Most Wonderful Regions in the World, published in 1921:
       Jacob Fink (deceased) played an honorable part in the civic and business life of the city of Niagara Falls, N. Y., and commanded the respect and enjoyed the esteem of the community in which he long maintained his home, and in which he was regarded as a loyal and useful citizen.
       Jacob Fink was born in Germany, Jan. 16, 1846, and his death occurred at his home in Niagara Falls, May 1, 1912. He had school privileges in his native land, where he also served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. At the age of eighteen years he accompanied his uncle, the late Conrad Fink, to America, after the latter had made one of his periodical trips to Germany, and came with him to the village of Niagara Falls, where Conrad Fink had established his home a number of years prior to that time. Here Jacob Fink found employment in the railroad shops, and later became associated with Daniel Phillips, a well known contractor and builder at that time. Still later he was employed as a carpenter in the service of the Niagara Falls Brewing Company, with which corporation he thus continued until his retirement from active affairs, about four years prior to his death. Mr. Fink was not only a skilled artisan, but also a man of broad and comprehensive reading, sound judgment and well fortified opinions. He was one of the organizers and incorporators of the Niagara Permanent Savings & Loan Association, in the upbuilding of which he took an active part, and which he served as a trustee until the time of his death. Mr. Fink belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was noble grand of the local lodge, and he exemplified the work of this fraternity in both the English and German languages. He was liberal and progressive as a citizen, was generous in his contributions to the church of which both he and wife were members, and cast his vote with the political party that best measured up to his ideals of right and justice.
       Jacob Fink married Mary Princing, who died in 1915. A record of their five children is as follows: Jacob J., who is deceased, served as a soldier in the Spanish-American war; Gottlieb, who died July 11, 1920; Conrad, who is deceased; Barbara, who is the wife of John J. De Shinsky, prominent in the lumber business at Niagara Falls; and Anna, who is the wife of Samuel R. Barton, who is a junior member of the firm of Perry & Barton, Niagara Falls, which represents the International Battery Service. Mr. Barton is a native of Buffalo. He was married in 1900 to Miss Anna Fink, and they have two children and reside at No. 1608 Main street.
       John J. De Shinsky was born at Tonawanda, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools. He has been identified with the lumber business during practically his entire active career, and at present is superintendent of the Haeberle Lumber Company, a solid enterprise of Niagara Falls. He is a member of Niagara River Lodge No. 785, F. & A. M., and belongs also to the Acasia Club. Mr. De Shinsky married Barbara Fink, and they had two children, Jack P. and Owen; the younger son dying in childhood. Mrs. De Shinsky belongs to the Eastern Star. The family resides at No. 1618 Eighth street, Niagara Falls.

• Last Edited: 4 Aug 2012