FAMILY STACK

Excerpted from The Link family: antecedents and descendants of John Jacob Link, 1417-1959

53 MARY LINK (John Adam II 3, John Adam I2, John Jacob 1) was born December 11, 1792, in Jefferson County, West Virginia; died March 16, 1856, in Sandusky County, Ohio. She married Samuel Crowell June 16, 1814, in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Samuel Crowell was known in his own family as Samuel Crowell III. He was the son of Samuel Crowell II and Mary Walker Crowell. *Crowell family tradition has it that the Crowells were lineal descendants of Oliver Cromwell. Samuel Crowell I dropped the letter m when he came to New Jersey. *NOTE: This is completely innaccurate and his been disproven by subsequent research. Mary and Samuel Crowell moved to Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1828. Samuel Crowell was born May 7, 1793, probably in Loudoun County, Virginia, and died April 9, 1859, in Sandusky County, Ohio. After their marriage Samuel and Mary joined the Presbyterian Church and moved their membership to Ohio.

Mary and Samuel were great pioneers of northern Ohio, Samuel was well educated, had earned a teaching certificate from Refuge Academy, December 20, 1818 in Jefferson County, West Virginia. The certificate credits him as being capable of teaching both sexes. The several signers of the certificate include the names of Adam Link, Samuel's father-in-law, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was probably a supporter and trustee of the Academy. Upon their arrival in Sandusky County Ohio, this young couple established their home on the tract of land owned by John Adam Link II, Mary's father, which he gave to them at his death. Their home was just west of Muskalonge Creek and on the south side of present route U. S. 20 in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County. Immediately Samuel began to teach school as well as farm. On October 13, 1829, within a year after his arrival, he was elected sheriff of Sandusky County; and this was at a time when men were elected to office because of their ability and character and not because of political alliance. Throughout his life Samuel wrote much for several newspapers, providing articles of editorial flavor and opinion on vital issues of the day. Mary and Samuel were founders of the Presbyterian Church in their neighborhood, organized November 30, 1833. Samuel was an individual of many facets, one of the brightest of which was his scholarship resulting in his becoming a great teacher, His interest in education, in the church, and in writing left values for many in the pioneer community in which he lived. He was the editor of the Lower Sandusky Telegraph in 1846 and later, and, besides his editorial and reportorial work, contributed several posems to the paper's columns. Letters he wrote to his sons reveal his love of reporting news and a lively sense of humor which made them sparkle. In addtion to his editorship, his teaching, and his church activity, Samuel engaged in the real estate business with success.

Mary and Samuel are both buried at Four Mile Cemetery, Sandusky County, Ohio. Data are from family records and the Hayes Memorial Library at Fremont, Ohio.