Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
RICHARD M. FINK. The most enduring monument which can be erected to the memory of loved ones is not made of marble or granite, for time, alas! crumbles these away; and, precious as are the cherished memories in the hearts of friends, within a few years these associations will be sleeping in the silent cemeteries. Naught endures save the written record, the page glowing with the noble life and kindly deeds, these alone hand down to the generations of the future, the history of the past, not only of the hardy pioneers whose brave patriotism and undaunted hearts paved the way to posterity and civilization, but also those of a later generation who carried onward the noble work which they began. Of the latter class was the late Richard M. Fink, for many years one of the leading druggists of Springfield, owning and operating successfully a large modern drug store.
Mr. Fink was born in Girard, Macoupin county, Illinois, December 15, 1852. He is a son, of Charles H. and Mary (Boggess) Fink. The father was born in Lexington county, Kentucky, February 22, 1822, and died January 26, 1901, The mother of our subject was born, April 24, 1827, in Christian county, Kentucky, and her death occurred February 24, 1863. These parents grew to maturity in their native state, were educated in the common schools and there were married. Charles H. Fink devoted the major portion of his active life to the nursery business, which he conducted successfully and on a large scale. His family consisted of four children, all of whom are living, but our subject, namely: Mrs. Virginia Crenshaw, Mattie and Richard M., twins, and Robert.
Richard M. Fink was young in years when his parents moved with their family from Illinois to which state they moved from Kentucky when they were a young couple, making the overland trip to Missouri in wagons, and locating at Lamar, Barton county. Here our subject grew to manhood and received his early education in the public schools, later taking a course in the Missouri State University. Intending to become a physician he first took a medical course, but later abandoned the idea and took a course in pharmacy and devoted his active life to the drug business. However, before leaving the town of Lamar, he engaged in the nursery business for some time, with his father; but in 1890 he came with his family to Springfield, and opened a drug store on the public square, and he continued in the drug business, which he conducted alone, the rest of his life, and during his residence in this city of twenty-two years he became one of the best known and most successful retail drug dealers in Springfield, enjoying a large and lucrative trade as a result of his honest and courteous dealings, his exceptional skill as a pharmacist and his business ability, always carrying a large stock of up-to-date drugs and drug sundries.
Mr. Fink was married, November 28, 1884, in Cooper county, Missouri, to Sallie E. Harris, who was born September 26, 1958, in the above named county, and there she grew to womanhood and received her education, attending the public schools and college. She is a daughter of Edwin and Mary Elizabeth (Ellis) Harris. Mr. Harris was born in Louisville, Kentucky, December 20, 1830; his wife was born in Orange county, Virginia, September 16, 1831, and her death occurred April 8, 1898. Mr. Harris is living at Pilot Grove, Missouri. His family consisted of seven children, all of whom survive at this writing, namely: Richard E., Sallie E., who became the wife of Mr. Fink; Maggie, Mary, Edward H., William T., and Fred K. Mr. Harris, who is now living retired, was for many years a banker and prominent citizen in Cooper county. Politically he is a Democrat.
Four children, all living, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fink, -namely: Edith C., born December 13, 1885, married George W. Sears, and they live in Urbana, Illinois; Charles H., born May 1, 1887, married Lettie Noblett, lives in Springfield and is conducting the drug store, formerly owned by his father. They have two children, Virginia, born April 12, 1909, and Richard M., born December 20, 1912; Margaret L., born December 17, 1889, is living at home; Fred E., born April 3, 1894, is the youngest of the family and lives at home, the Fink residence being one of the commodious ones on Benton avenue.
Politically, Mr. Fink was a Republican. Religiously, he supported the Congregational church and fraternally was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Fink was in failing health for some time, and his death occurred at Boulder, Colorado, October 10, 1912, where he had gone in an effort to regain his health. He was nearly sixty years of age.
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