:: Ben Sink's Book "The Jasonville Story" ::
By: Dick McDonnell, member of 1958 Centennial Committee
Excerpts from the Ben Sink's book "The Jasonville Story" as featured on local historian, Max Griffith's The Jasonville Story...
BEN SINK is one of those rare individuals whose interests in people and places is complimented by a fine sense of humor and a rare talent for telling a good story.
Born in Hymera, Indiana, on Christmas Day, 1888, Ben opened a tailor shop in Jasonville in January 1908. He became Jasonville’s last town clerk, first City Clerk, mayor and served an eleven-year tenure as postmaster, during later years. A close friend of Indiana’s governors during the twenties and early thirties, Mr. Sink was one of the individuals responsible for securing Shakamak State Park for Jasonville and the Tri-County area.
Known for his sharp sense of humor and practical jokes, Ben excited the countryside numerous times with his escapades. One of his best feats was jumping off the top rung of a twenty-foot ladder into a bucket of water. Simply turning the ladder upside down, then mounting the first rung, he calmly stepped into the water before an overflow crowd in Jasonville. He also scared away “peddlers” by having fits, planted a garden in the middle of Main Street and when one of his best friends was about to be married, he ran the friends suit through a sewing machine until it was useless.
Mr. Sink also served as promoter and manager for several of Jasonville’s top semi-pro baseball teams in the early 1900’s and was a veteran of the famous “Battle of the Bogle Corner” war.
He was married in 1911 to Emma Benham, who passed away on August 15, 1956. The Sinks had two sons, Ben, Jr. and Bob and a daughter, Mary.
Today (1958), after 50 years on Main Street, Ben H. Sink is a lawyer with law offices in the K. of P. building. Over six months of visiting early settlers, reading old court records, and recalling past memories have gone into the preparation of Jasonville’s history, THE JASONVILLE STORY.
:: Jasonville History ::