H. G. Lynch, who is editor and proprietor of the Greenfield Transcipt, the leading republican paper of Adair county, understands well the demands of the public, while an enterprising spirit has kept him in touch with the progress which is as pronounced in matters of journalism as any other walk of life. Mr. Lynch is a native of Franklin county, Ohio. He was born June 9, 1857, a son of John . and Eliza J. (Timmons) Lynch, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in central Ohio. They were married in 1851, in Columbus, Ohio, to which place the father had removed in young manhood, having, however, in the meantime accompanied his parents on their removal from Vermont to Rochestser, New York, when he was a lad of nine years, and subsequently to Ravenna, Ohio, while some years afterward he became a resident of Franklin county. Following the marriage of Mr. Lynch and Eliza J. Timmons there they established their home and continued to reside near Columbus until called to their final rest, their home place being a farm ten miles south of the city. The father passed away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, while the mother reached the age of seventy-six. H. G. Lynch was reared under the parental roof and attended the district schools and the Westerville school, for the father removed to Westerville in order to educate his children. He was graduated from the high school in 1874 and the same year entered Otterbein University, in which he continued his studies for two years. He turned from the regular collegiate course in order to take up the study of medicine at the age of eighteen years and in 1876 he entered the Columbus Medical College, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1878, which numbered fifty members. Mr. Lynch was the youngest of his class, having not yet attained his majority.
Following his graduation Dr. Lynch located in Columbus, where he practiced for two years, and in 1880 he came to Iowa, settling in Prescott, Adams county, where he successfully engaged in the practice of medicine for five years. In 1886 he came to Adair county, taking up his abode at Arbor Hill, where he remained for a decade in active practice, becoming one of the well known physicians of the county. In 1896 he was elected on the republican ticket to the office of clerk of the district court and made a creditable record through his prompt and capable discharge of duty that in 1898 and again in 1900 he was reelected, each time with a largely increased majority, a fact which is indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. In January, 1903, following the expiration of his third term of office as clerk of the courts, he returned to Columbus and pursued a post-graduate course in medicine at the Ohio Medical University, after which he established himself in practice at Greenfield. In 1906 he joined R. B. Oldham in the purchase from H. P. Gow of the printing plant of the Greenfield Transcript, and Dr. Lynch assumed the editorship of the paper, while his partner, Mr. Oldham, entered upon the duties of postmaster, to which office he was appointed. The postoffice and the printing plant being located in the same building, the partnership between Dr. Lynch and Mr. Oldham extended over a period of seven years, but on the 1st of November, 1913, Dr. Lynch purchased his partner’s interest and became sole proprietor of the paper, which is republican in its political complexion. It is a well edited sheet and is gaining steadily in popularity, while its large circulation makes it an excellent advertising medium.
Dr. Lynch was married on the 10th of September, 1878, to Miss Anna M. Stall, of Columbus, Ohio, and to this union were born two sons: J. LeRoy, who is a farmer of Clark county, Iowa; and Eldon R., who is a fireman in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. The wife and mother departed this life February 5, 1887, and on the 21st of November, 1888, Dr. Lynch was again married, Miss Rhue M. Busby, of Spaulding, Iowa, becoming his wife. Of the second marriage there are also two sons: Donald F., who is advertising and job manager of the Transcript; and Edgar H., a high-school graduate student.
Fraternally Dr. Lynch is connected with Crusade Lodge, No. 286, A. F. & A. M.; St. John’s Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., and Greenfield Chapter, No. 91, O. E. S., with which his wife is also affiliated. He is likewise a member of Greenfield Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F., Greenfield Encampment, No. 110, and Martha Lodge, No. 37, of the Rebekahs. Both Dr. and Mrs. Lynch are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in all the relations of life have stood for those things which count as most worth while, working not only for the material upbuilding of the city but also for the advancement of its political, intellectual and moral standards.
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