Zink, T. M. 1858-1930

ZINK, NIX, BENNISON, BECKER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/23/2008 at 20:04:02

LeMars Sentinel
September 16, 1930

Mrs. Clarence Becker, of Los Angeles, Cal., arrived in LeMars Tuesday called
here on account of the serious illness of her father, Attorney T. M. Zink.

NOTED LAWYER PASSES AWAY
T.M. ZINK, PIONEER RESIDENT, DIES AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS

T.M. Zink, pioneer resident of LeMars and widely known attorney in
Northwestern Iowa, died at the Sacred Heart hospital Thursday afternoon
shortly after three o'clock. Mr. Zink was taken ill last Friday. He was
found to be suffering with gall bladder trouble and an operation was deemed
imperative. He apparently rallied from the operation and hopes were held for
his recovery. His condition this week became much worse and Thursday
physicians in attendance stated his case was hopeless.

Mr. Zink was 72 years of age. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. T.M. Zink,
and one daughter, Mrs. Clarence Becker, of Los Angeles, Cal.

Anxious inquiries here have been made at all gathering points in the city in
regard to his health during the week and the news of his death is received
with universal regret.

NOTED LAWYER LAID TO REST
Friends and Neighbors Pay Last Tribute to Pioneer LeMars Resident
WAS COLORFUL FIGURE
Came Here When Penniless Student and Achieved Career

Hundreds of citizens gathered Saturday afternoon to pay a last tribute to
the memory of T.M. Zink for forty seven years a resident of LeMars, and
during his lifetime a well known attorney in Northwestern Iowa.

The funeral services were held on the lawn at the residence, 112 Third
Street, SE., and were attended by people in all walks of life, paying
compliment to a man whose personally attracted alike friends and enemies.

The services were in charge of Dr. J. J. DePree, pastor of the Presbyterian
church, who opened and closed the services. He, with others, paid brief and
fitting tributes to the dead man. Words of eulogy were brief but to the
point.

Rev. J.J. Vollmar, of St. John's church, spoke of Mr. Zink as a citizen.
Rev. A. Z. McGogney, a life-long friend, told of acts of generosity and
charity in which the giver followed scriptural admonition. Rev. J.J. DePree
pictured the admirable and happy life of his friend as seen by him. Bishop
L.H. Seager spoke on their associations as neighbors for several years. Rev.
Earl Burgess spoke briefly on the public life of Mr. Zink as a lawyer, and
his able work in the courts and as a public spirited man.

Pallbearers at the funeral were J.G. Smaltz, M.A. Cass, Rev. J.J. DePree,
J.F. Schafer, R.R. Bedell, of LeMars, and Fred Free, of Sioux City. Honorary
pallbearers were George W. Sturges, C.D. Roseberry, Jos. Cook, Clarke
Bolser, J.T. Keenan, E.E. Herron, W.R. Winders, W.A. Coad, of LeMars, W.J.
Kass and F.E. Gill, of Sioux City, J.M. Wormley, of Kingsley, and J.E.
Payne, of Vermillion, S.D.

A long cortege of friends followed the remains to their last resting place
in the city cemetery.

BORN IN OHIO

Townsend Murphy Zink was born near Hillsboro, Ohio, December 28, 1858. His
parents were on the one ship of German extraction and on the other of Irish
and characteristics of both nationalities were inherited by him. With his
parents he came to Iowa when he was a child and lived the life known by many
who have seen the bare prairie become a commonwealth of prosperity. The
family located near Newton in Jasper county. Early showing a distrust for
the quiet life of the farm, T.M. Zink applied himself to books, fired with
the idea of engaging in a profession. He studied nights, seized any
opportunity to read books and taught country school to attain his ambition.
He attended law school at the State University and was graduated in June,
1883, and the same summer came to LeMars and hung out his shingle as an
attorney.

He encountered many days of lean fare and difficulties and in later years
became a leading figure in courts of law in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and
Minnesota.

On coming to LeMars he was associated for a time with M.B. Kelley, long
deceased, and then formed a partnership known as Zink & Gosselin. Several
years later he became associated with Frank M. Roseberry. Their association
continued nineteen years, the firm being noted throughout the state and
parts of adjoining states.

Dissolving partnership with Mr. Roseberry, Mr. Zink conducted an office on
his own account and was also for some years connected with W.J. Kass and
Albert Kass, of Sioux City, for a time although retaining his office in
LeMars. Of recent years he confined his practice to the LeMars office.

Two years after coming to LeMars, Mr. Zink was united in marriage with Miss
Emma Nix in December, 1885. She died in October, 1910. One daughter was born
to them, Mrs. Clarence Becker, of Los Angeles.

Mr. Zink was united in marriage six years ago to Mrs. Ida Bennison, of
LeMars, and their life was ideally happy. His death is mourned by his wife,
his daughter, two brothers, John Zink, of Norman, Oklahoma, Arthur Zink, of
McCook, Neb., and a sister, Mrs. Cora Chambers, of Grand Junction, Iowa.

During his residence in LeMars, Mr. Zink in early days acted as city clerk
and later was city attorney. He was prominent in public affairs and was at
one time nominated for the office of congressman in this district and made
an intensive and aggressive campaign for the Democrats in an overwhelmingly
Republican district. He was a different times connected with LeMars banks
and recently has been a director of the LeMars Loan and Trust Company.

T.M. Zink had many friends and many enemies. His name is one that will last
as long as the history of LeMars secures a place in any record of moment.