Husband James Merrill Linn 1 2 3
Born: 17 Oct 1833 - Lewisburg, Union Co, PA 1 3
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Died: 23 Feb 1897 4
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Father: James F. Linn (1802-1869) 2 5 6
Mother: Margaret Irvine Wilson (1804-1868) 2 6 7 8
Marriage: 26 Dec 1867 1
Wife Mary Ellen Billmeyer 1 2 4
Born:
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Father: Philip Billmeyer ( - ) 1
Mother:
Children
1 M Philip Billmeyer Linn 1 4
Born: 25 May 1869 - Lewisburg, Union Co, PA 1
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General Notes: Husband - James Merrill Linn
He was born in the house in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, in which he lived throughout his life. His early education was received in the Lewisburg Academy. When the first session of the university commenced in September, 1846, he entered what was then called the senior academic class. The next year he entered college, and graduated August 20, 1851, with the salutatory, being not quite eighteen years of age. He was a member of the Gamma Chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and during the early history of this Chapter took an active interest in its affairs. In 1852 he went to Lancaster to read law with James Black, a former student of his father. In the same year he was appointed a tutor in Franklin and Marshall college in that city, teaching Greek and Latin. This was for two years; then he returned to Lewisburg, and was admitted to the Bar in September, 1854. For six months he practiced in Phoenixville; then returned to Lewisburg, and in 1858 became a partner of his father, under the firm name of J. F. & J. M. Linn.
When the Civil war broke out in 1861, and the call for 75,000 troops was issued, he was at a law suit in Snyder County. The suit came to an end at once. He hastened home, enlisted and served as second lieutenant in Company G, 4th P. V. I., for three months. Then he aided in recruiting a company, of which he was commissioned captain-Company H, 51st P. V. I., in which he served from November 16, 1861, until April 14, 1864, when he resigned on account of greatly impaired health. During his last enlistment he served as a staff officer a considerable part of the time, and particularly as judge advocate of the division, on account of his legal training and equipment. After his return from service it was several years before he resumed his profession. His father dying in 1869, he entered into partnership with Andrew H. Dill, which continued for ten years. The partnership being dissolved, he then practiced his profession alone.
An old soldier, Mr. Linn ever manifested the utmost interest in anything that pertained to the Civil war, being especially concerned in collecting and publishing reliable history of the struggle. One great desire and ambition of his life was to see a becoming soldiers' monument erected in Lewisburg as a testimonial of respect and regard, and in honor of the soldiers of Union county.
His public spirit and civic pride kept him always to the front of enterprise, ready to lend his willing assistance and to create in others something of his own enthusiasm. In his social life his friends found him a most interesting companion. His gentle nature, stimulated by his love for all that is chaste and beautiful in literature and art, made him a gentleman always agreeable and entertaining. Well educated in his youth, he added to his college training a great fund of knowledge by a wide range of study in history and literature. He was a frequent contributor to local papers.
At a meeting of the local Bar of Lewisburg, to present appropriate resolutions on the death of Mr. Linn, Hon. Harold M. McClure, the president judge, on taking the Bench to preside, thus spoke: "We have met to-day in memory of one of a long line of eminent men, whose erudition, scholarly attainments, gentlemanly deportment, thorough knowledge of the science of law, and skill and faithfulness in its practice, have kept this Bar in the front rank of the profession. Mr. Linn was a worthy descendant of an illustrious sire; a conspicuous example of the hereditary transmission of the physical qualities of parents to their children.
"There are those who hold that preachers are rarely made in one generation. If this be true analogy will account for his intuitive perception of the underlying principle that controlled every case. The lamp lit by the father was not dimmed when held by the son; the mantle that fell from his shoulders never reached the earth. He came early to the law, and for nearly half a century bore evidence of her jealousy as a mistress. From Brown vs. White Deer Township, 3 Casey, where his contention that an appeal from the township auditors was the exclusive remedy to recover money expended by a supervisor on behalf of the township, was sustained, down to the current volume, the reports of the Supreme Court bear unquestioned and unimpeachable testimony to his legal acumen, his untiring energy and midnight labors in behalf of those whose cause he advocated. A lawyer of the old school, his loyalty to his clients was only exceeded by his zeal in their cause. Without fee, reward or hope thereof, he protected the weak and defended the poor. Of weak physical constitution, his mental endurance was without limit. That he should have been chosen by so many to champion their cause, is pregnant proof of the advancement of our civilization. A poor champion he would have been with staves and leather target in the lists of the Norman invader, to wage the battles of his clients. In the modern forum he quailed before no antagonist, nor asked for quarter. He was a living witness of the power of mind and the weakness of matter in the struggle for supremacy in the closing years of this nineteenth century. Advancing years impaired his health, but did not enfeeble his mind or diminish his energy. He was kind and generous, affable and courteous, and of all the illustrious men who have passed before him not one has left a better name, none were more sorely missed. In the garland to his memory we twine this leaf, a small testimonial of his worth as a man, his ability as a lawyer, his patriotism as a citizen, his attainments as a scholar, his love and tenderness as a husband and father, and his loyalty as a friend. 'Woe unto us, not him; for he sleeps well.'"