James Blair Linn (1831)

James Blair Linn
Born	October 15, 1831(1831-10-15) Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Julia J. Pollock (first) Mary E.D. Wilson
Parents	James F. Linn Ann Fleming

• "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, 1846 (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, 1676-82; 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 13, 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.