The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-12-02
S. J. Links s Death
Brings Severe Shock
One of City's Foremost Citizens
And Best Business Men Takes
Own Life.

is supposed to have been the cause
of the self inflicted death of S. j.
Link, we'll known merchant and
business man, which occurred yes
terday at noon in his store. Shortly
after the report Of pistol was heard
on the street, MIR. Links body was
found on the second floor Of his
store, a 3S-caliber bullet wound in
the right temple and life already ex-
tinct.
Coming from his home on Vienna
street about 1880 o'clock, he enter
ed his store and went directly to the
second floor, where; after removing
his glasses and bis coat, he lay down
on a mattress stored there and short
ly afterward thesreport of the pistol
was heard downstairs and in the
street, but the sound coming in the
medley of other; noises attracted no
notice. A few minutes later Robert
Cheatham, an employee of Mr.. Link,
had occasion to 60 to the ware-room
upstairs where he made the discov-
cry. < ~.
Mr.. Link, one of the most methodi-
cal and conservative business men
in the community, was engaged in a
general merchandising business, a
large part Of his transactions being
in the supplying of farmers. Like
many other business men he had had
trouble in collecting money due him,
due to the generally poor condition
of business. But Mr.. Links conserva-
tism and foresight are supposed to
have been such that he did not feel
the effects of poor. business to the
same extent of many other mer-
chants. He is said to have remarked
to Mr.. Cheatham only the night be-
fore his death that he had lost every
thing except his real estate and stock
of goods. He left a note in which
the request was made that his broth
er, Robert S. Link, and J. Allen
Smith, ST., act as executors in the
settlement of his business affairs.
Surviving Mr.. Link are his wife,
formerly Miss Grace Smith, two
daughters Miss Mary Quarles Link
and Mrs. Paul Kennedy; one brother
Robert S. Link, and his aged father,
DR.. w. E. Link.
Funeral services were held at the
Presbyterian church this afternoon at
$3.50 conducted by DR.. Jas. L. Mar
tn assisted by Rev. G. M. Telford.
;Pallbearers were: w. M. Barnwell,
L. C. Haskell, J. C. King, Frank W..
Wilson, T. G. White, active. DR.. F.
E Harrison, w. P. Greene, DR.. S. G
Thomson, Lewis Perrin, ] D. Kerr,
A. B. Morse, Robert Cheatham and
Robert McCanty, honorary.
Samuel Jenner Link was born Feb
ruary 1S, 1867, and had he lived un-
til February he would have been SIS
years old. From Wilmington, his old
home, Mr.. Link came to Abbeville
when he was sixteen years old and
for thirty-eight years he has been
closely associated with the business
and social life of the community. For
a number of years he was connected
with the A. M. Smith firm, later
opening a store To- be conducted on
the same principles as that of Mr..
Smith. AS a business man many of
his colleagues have been heard to say
that Mr.. Link was one of the most
methodical and orderly they had
ever known.
Mr.. Link for number of years
was uniformly successful in what
over business he undertook. Only in
the last two years did he meet with
reverses, and then only those of such
a nature as the best men of affairs
hardly withstood. That his affairs are
more than solvent now may be tax
en- as an indication Of his foresight.
In 1891 Mr.. Link was married to
Miss Leila Quarles who died about
25 years ago. Last December he was
married the second time, to Miss
Grace Smith, who survives him.