Sophie Weil Linke

  

Sophie Weil Linke was born in Iowa in 1860. She married Emil Linke, a German immigrant, and came over the pass with him in 1883.  They established a ranch on Eight Mile Creek. 

It was a lonely, difficult life for the women of the county.  During the terrible winter of 1898-1899, snow lay six feet deep, burying fences completely.  The pass was closed; there were no mail, newspapers, or communications for six weeks.  Drifts covered over log houses and occupants had to shovel snow from the windows for light.  In February Emil Linke skied to the home of Mrs. Bob Seibert, to fetch her to act as midwife for the birth of his wife’s ninth child.  The woman ended up staying ten days before she could go home.  That spring, the Linkes obtained two of their neighbor’s places, following a frequent method of increasing the size of a ranch: by purchasing land from homesteaders who didn’t find the struggle worth it all.  At one time the Linke’s owned approximately 10,000 acres in Grand County. 

When the railroad was being built over Rollins Pass in 1904-1905, the Linke’s had a contract to furnish meat to the construction crew.  Sophie would take a two wheeled cart to sell dairy products at the tourist resorts.  The Linkes maintained a reputation for the best meat and dairy products throughout the region. 

Sophie Linke died January 3, 1934.  Her descendants still own property and live in Grand County in 2005.