I. W. Fink, physician, Hillsboro, was born at Jonesboro, Ill., August 24, 1824, to John and Sophia (Lingle) Fink, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, he born November 12, 1797, and came to Illinois in 1817, his parents dying in his childhood; he settled in Union County, where he carried on tanning and farming until his death, which occurred November 6, 1858; his wife was born August 1, 1800, and died January 11, 1866; she came to the State early in life from Hamilton County, Ohio, whither she had gone, with her parents, from her native State. Their children were I. W., Henry J., born March 2, 1828, Mary A., March 21, 1832, wife of John Miller; John M., deceased, without issue; George W., born October 19, 1838; Levi A., Jan. 30, 1845. All are farming in Union County, Ill., except the subject of this sketch, who received a common school education, with the addition of two years at the Hillsboro Academy. In 1850, he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. S. Haskill, of Hillsboro, where he remained, including his attendance upon lectures, three years, and graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in 1854, when he began the practice at Hillsboro, where he has since been located (except one year at Shelbyville), and has built up a large and remunerative practice. He is a member of the National, State, District and County Medical Societies, the latter of which he organized and held the office of President. He was married, April 24, 1855, to Miss Emeline M. Burnap, born in Montgomery County May 26, 1835, and died January 8, 1857; she was a daughter of George and Maria (Seward) Burnap, the latter related to the noted Secretary Seward; by her he had one child – Mary M. D.; he was again married Oct. 2, 1858, to Sarah C. Sawyer, born in Boston, Mass.,  November 7, 1834 by her he has three children – Juliet K., John W. and Hugh K. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Democratic Party, and with his family belongs to the Congregational Church.