Difference between revisions of "James Blair Linn (1831)"

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
- John Blair Linn was born at Lewisburg, Penn., October 15, 1831, and inherited
-his inclination to genealogy and local history from his father, James F. Linn,
-whose memorandums and newspaper files were the sources from which much of
-whatever is valuable in the "Annals of Buffalo Valley" was derived.  He was
-prepared for college at the Lewisburg Academy, under John Robinson, Esq., late
-of the Philadelphia Bar; entered Marshall College at Mercersburg, Penn., in May,
-(sophomore class), half advanced, where he graduated at the age of
-seventeen in the same class with the Hon. Charles A. Mayer, some years ago
-president judge of Clinton and Centre counties.  He read law in his father's
-office, and was admitted to the Bar September 16, 1851.  The years 1852 and 1853
-he spent in Sullivan county, which had just been opened out, where he was
-elected district attorney.  He returned to Union county in 1854, where he
-practiced his profession until his removal to Bellefonte, in April 1871.  On
-April 10, 1873, he was appointed deputy secretary of the Commonwealth by the
-Hon. M.S. Quay, and May 15, 1878, upon the resignation of Mr. Quay, he was
-commissioned Secretary of the Commonwealth, in which incumbency he remained
-until after Gov. Hoyt was inaugurated, and then returned to Bellefonte.  Mr.
-Linn and Dr. Egle were made editors of the Second Series of Pennsylvania
-Archives, the publication of which was recommended by Gov. Hartranft in his
-annual message, January 7, 1874, and they were issued in twelve volumes, under
-Mr. Quay's supervision.  In 1879 Mr. Linn published the "Annals of Buffalo
-Valley," a local work embracing the history of Union county principally.  It is
-a book of 620 pages, replete with interest, though largely local, and involved
-an immense amount of painstaking labor.  While he was Secretary of the
-Commonwealth, there was published under his direction "Duke of York's laws,
--82; and Laws of the Province, 1682-1700."  In 1882 he edited a "History of
-Centre and Clinton counties" in a handsome volume of nearly 700 pages, which has
-preserved all that is of value of "Men and things in these counties" in a
-readable and entertaining shape.  Mr. Linn has not only inherited from his
-father his inclination to genealogy and local history, but also that same
-methodical and systematic manner of looking after his business affairs, and that
-same sense of right, justice and honor and Christian manhood-characteristic of
-his father-is posses by him.  He is an exemplary citizen, known and beloved by
-all.  His work in the line of history and genealogy has been one of labor and
-love-he being fond of research and investigation.  He possesses that love of
-books, and a literary taste that has been characteristic of a distinguished
-ancestry.  He is identified with the Presbyterian Church.  Politically he is a
-Republican.  During the war of the Rebellion he was a patriot, and served his
-country.
-   Mr. Linn was twice married; (first) October 22, 1857 to Julia J. Pollock,
-born February 2, 1831, daughter of F. W. Pollock, of Milton, Penn., and their
-children were:  Sarah P. G., born April 9, 1859; and Bessie W., born September
-, 1860.  Was married (second) to Mary E.D. Wilson, daughter of Samuel Hunter
-and Mary Benner Wilson, and their children are: Mary H., born July 26, 1869, and
-Henry Sage, born January 18, 1873, at Bellefonte, Penn.  The latter is a member
-of the Society of Cincinnati.  He is associated in the office with his father
-under whom he is preparing himself for the profession of the law.  A well-
-educated, bright, genial and affable young man, he surely has before him a
-promising future.

Difference between revisions of "James Blair Linn (1831)"

Latest revision as of 03:50, 25 October 2010

Navigation menu

Search