Henry Link - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Although he lived in Auglaize Township, Paulding County until his death, he was an active member of the Bishop Post, G.A.R. of Defiance County  An immigrant from Baden, Germany, Henry was born in 1837 there.  


When he was single and twenty-four, he enlisted in Company C, Ohio 57th Regiment.  He signed up on November 9, 1861 for a three year term which he fulfilled and then some.  The 57th took part in many important battles in the south from Shiloh to Vicksburg and finally to Atlanta in 1864.  Their regiment was decimated by half by the end of the war.



 
It was November 11, 1864 when Henry Link mustered out in Marietta, Georgia because his three year term had expired.  On the 1890 Veterans Census for Junction, Paulding County, Ohio, Henry reported that he suffered from rheumatism and heart disease because of his war service

Soon after Henry  returned from the war, he married Adaliza Iddings on November 14, 1865 in Paulding County.  He was 28 years old.  Ada, as she was called, and Henry settled down in Auglaize Township, Paulding County where they were found in the 1870 census.  With them, were their first children: William, 2, and John, 3 months.  Henry worked as a farm laborer.  It should be noted that in 1891, the paper noted that Henry's pension was $8.00 a month.
Another interesting note in the Defiance County Republican stated that "Mrs. Henry Link is a good Republican, and her husband is a good Democrat.  They are a jolly couple."  

In 1893, the Defiance Democrat printed some startling news about Henry's wife, Ida:

They farmed in that location in Auglaize Township all through the census years, with their family growing larger each year, adding Henry Clarence, Jefferson, Anna Della and Curtis Cleveland.  In 1900, Clarence (Henry) and his wife, Fanny lived with his parents, along with their child, Estella, 2.  Curtis, 18, was also still at home, helping with the farm.

In 1910, Henry was 72, and Ida was 62 with Curtis C., 24, left at home to help with the farming.  Henry's widowed brother, Richard, had also moved in.
When Henry turned 78, a big party was thrown for him on June 16, 1915 with 113 people present, "all bringing full baskets," according to one newspaper account.   Shortly following, in November, 1915, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with another big party. "Both highly respected in their neighborhood," over 100 people showed up.

Henry Link passed away on August 6, 1918, and his obituary was printed in the local papers.

Riverside Cemetery  (findagrave.com photo)

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)