Jacob Booher Linn

Jacob Booher Linn
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Born	March 10, 1839(1839-03-10) Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA
Died	December 26, 1893 (aged 54) Blair, Nebraska, USA
Resting place	Shelby Township Cemetery, Shelby, Iowa, USA
Spouse	Hester Ann Chilcoat (m. 1864) «Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.»"Marriage: Hester Ann Chilcoat to Jacob Booher Linn" Location: (linkback:http://jimlindstrom.com/mediawiki/index.php/Jacob_Booher_Linn)
Children	Ambrose Burnside Linn McKendree Linn Monroe Linn Anna Laura Linn Walter McKnight Linn Franklin Bryce Linn Willie Linn Hugh Harrison Linn
Parents	James Linn Nancy Booher
Relatives	Caspar Booher Linn (brother) John Linn (brother) James W. Linn (brother) Jane Linn (Sister) Hugh Linn (Brother) Samuel Brierly Linn (Brother)

Handwriting

James Frank Linn has a copy of Jacob's original handwriting. Although the content is inconsequential (elementary school exercises or something similar), this is the second oldest known surviving example of Linn handwriting. Jacob's father James Linn signed a number of wills in the 1830s which are 10-20 years older. (See James Linn's page for images.)

Clan Linn Book Entry

"Jacob Booher Linn was born March 16, 1839 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania and reared on a farm until 1859, when he entered the Rainsburg Academy, Blair County, Pennsylvania. He remained there until President Lincoln issued his first call for troops, when he enlisted, April 23, 1861, for three years in the Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. He served in the Peninsula campaign; in the seven days' fight before Richmond under General McClellan; was taken prison, June 27, 1862, and spent sixty days in Libby prison and on Belle Island. Unfit for duty when exchanged, he was sent to a hospital, but, impatient to be in active service, he took "French leave," and joined his regiment in time to be at the battle of Antietam. He was also at the battle of Fredericksburg, in 1863. He was honorably discharged at Spottsylvania Court House, and mustered out at Pittsburg, May 23, 1864.

Returning home in June, he soon after bought a farm, where he remained until 1874, when he moved with his family to near Shelby, Iowa, and bought 120 acres, which he improved. He left his farm in the hands his son, McKendree, in 1881, and moved to Hand County, South Dakota, where, taking up 480 acres, he remained four years. He then placed Dakota lands in the hands of his sons, Ambrose and McKendree, who now own 800 acres and control about 3000 acres more as a ranch. Returning to Shelby, he remained there until his decease, in 1893, which occurred suddenly. He had gone to Blair, Nebraska, to a reunion with two of his old army messmates. Each had read a paper on his army experiences and observations, and when done knelt in prayer before parting. He began to pray, saying 'We thank Thee, O Lord, that we as comrades have been permitted to meet again. We pray Thee to help us to live that we may all meet in heaven.' As he finished the last sentence, he fell back into the arms of his messmates, gasped twice, and his spirit took its flight." p526-25, The Clan Linn in the Twentieth Century, taken from The Clan Linn.

Note: Jacob's photo (right / above) shows his Civil War veteran's ladder badge,Company F., 8th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Biography in Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa (1889)

JACOB B. LINN is one of Shelby County's honored citizens and an ex-soldier. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1839. He is a son of James, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Nancy (Hooker) Lynn [(Booher) Linn]. He is the youngest of seven children. He received a fair education in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and was attending college in order to gain an education that would be sufficient for a profession, when the war broke out.

In answer to Lincoln's call for 50,000 men he, in company with seven class-mates, enlisted, April 23, 1861, in the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, Company F. He intended to enlist for three months, but he served three years in the same regiment. He was under fire at Gainesville and took an active part in the second battle fought on the Potomac, and in the seven days' fight on the Peninsula; he was taken prisoner June 27, 1861, and sent to Libby Prison; he spent sixty days here and at Belle Isle, experiencing all the horrors of these terrible prisons.

After his discharge he was unfit for duty and was sent to the United States hospital in New Jersey, but he took French leave and joined his regiment at Sharpsburg, Maryland. He took an active part at Sharpsburg, Antietam, battle of Fredericksburg under General Burnside, the battle of the Wilderness and in the seven days' battle before Richmond. He was honorably discharged at Spottsylvania Court-House, and mustered out of the service at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1864, as Sergeant.

He returned home and took charge of his two brothers' farms, they still being in the service. He was married October 7 [13], 1864, to Hester Ann Chilcote, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Alva and Catharine (Booker) [(Booher)] Chilcote. He lived in Pennsylvania until 1874, when he came to Shelby County. He settled on wild land and was one of the first on the prairie; he improved his land in good style, and has a substantial house, and barn for stock and grain. The farm consists of 120 acres of rich land, two and a half miles from Shelby.

Mr. and Mrs. Linn have seven children, six sons and one daughter--Ambrose B., McKindre, Anna Laura (a successful teacher), Monroe, Walter M. C., Franklin, and Hugh L. Mr. Linn is a Republican. He has served as township clerk for three years, as a member of the school board, and is the present assessor of the township. He has filled all these offices with credit to himself and to the best interest of the public. He is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 364; was a charter member of the first post of Shelby County. He is a member and class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Linn and four children are also members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Linn has ever taken an active part in religious and educational affairs, and is always a liberal supporter of any enterprise that has for its object the advancement of the best interests of the community. He is cordial to all, upright in business, and one of Shelby County's most valuable citizens.

1915 Shelby County History Book Entry

"Jacob Linn, was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1839. He is a son of James, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Nancy Hooker Lynn. He received his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and was attending college in order to gain an education that would be sufficient for a profession, when the war broke out. In answer to Lincoln's call, he enlisted, April 23, 1861, in the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, Company F, he served three years in the same regiment. He was under fire at Gainesville and took an active part in the second battle fought on the Potomac, and in the seven days' fight on the Peninsula; he was taken prisoner June 27, 1861, and sent to Libby Prison; he spent sixty days here and at Belle Isle, experiencing all the horrors of these terrible prisons. After his discharge he was unfit for duty and was sent to the United States hospital in New Jersey, but he took French leave and joined his regiment at Sharpsburg, Maryland. He took an active part at Sharpsburg, Antietam, battle of Fredericksburg under General Burnside, the battle of the Wilderness and in the seven days' battle before Richmond. He was honorably discharged at Spotsylvania Court-House, and mustered out of the service at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1864, as Sergeant.

He was married October 7, 1864, to Hester Ann Chilcote, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Alva and Catharine (Booker) Chilcote. Mr. and Mrs. Linn have seven children, six sons and one daughter -- Ambrose B., McKindre, Anna Laura (a successful teacher), Monroe, Walter M. C., Franklin, and Hugh L."

Ninth Child

The north side of Jacob's tombstone indicates Jacob and Hester had a ninth child: born May 12, 1878; died May 16, 1878. This seems impossible, however, given, Hugh Harrison's birth only six months later.

Locating Jacob's Farms

• Shelby, Iowa: 41°32'13.86"N, 95°28'55.03"W (This farm was passed down to son Franklin Bryce Linn and then to grandson Leslie Leonard Linn. It remained in the family until the 1990s and Les was awarded a Century Farm award by the State of Iowa.
• Northeast corner of Hand County, South Dakota

Land of Jacob Booher Linn: 44°48'37.65"N, 98°55'3.91"W (SE & SW Quarters of Tract 32, Linn Township)

Land of Ambrose Burnside Linn:44°47'50.80"N, 98°54'9.89"W (SW quarter of Tract 4, Carlton Township)

Land of McKendree Linn: 44°48'17.12"N, 98°56'1.97"W (NW Quarter of Tract 6, Carlton Township)

Photos

Jacob B. Linn and family	Corporal Linn (later First Sergeant) of Company F, 8th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry	Jacob B. Linn (Company F, 8th PA Inf)at left border pasted in, brother Samuel B. Linn (Company A, 9th PA Cav) fourth row from front, fourth from right.

Historical Records

• Jacob (age 31) and Hester (age 35) are living in Springfield Township, Huntingdon County, PA, along with Ambrose (age 4), McKendry (age 3) and Monroe (age 1) in the 1870 Federal Census
• Jacob is listed in the 1880 Census for Shelby, Iowa. (Also listed are Samuel B Linn and James W Linn.)
• Jacob (age 45) and Hester (age 49) are living in Shelby, Iowa along with Ambrose (19), McKendree (age 17), Monroe (age 15), Annie (age 14), Walter (age 13), Frank (age 11), and Hugh (age 6) in the 1885 Iowa State Census
• Jacob is listed in the 1885 Census for South Dakota Territory in Hand County.
• Jacob and brother Samuel Brierly Linn are listed in the Shelby County Iowa 1892 Farmers Directory (p. 4)

See Also

• Index of Veterans