LYNN, John F. 1847-1928

LYNN, DOWDELL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 16:01:13

J. F. Lynn Died At Grundy Home Wednesday A.M.

Esteemed Grundy Pioneer Passed Away While Sleeping Early Wednesday

Came To This County Sixty-One Years Ago

Health Had Been Failing for Three Years Following a Stroke of Paralysis

John F. Lynn died at his home in Grundy Center shortly after three o'clock Wednesday morning. He passed away peacefully while asleep. Death was expected at any time twenty-four hours before the end came. Mr. Lynn suffered a stroke of paralysis three years ago. He was confined to his home but a short time following the stroke, but never recovered his former robust physical vigor. He began to fail noticeably during the past few months and three weeks ago he took to his bed and was never able to leave it.

Funeral services will be held at the home in this city Friday afternoon with Rev. F. O. Winslow in charge. The remains will be laid to rest in the family lot in the Grundy Center cemetery, to which three of his children have preceded him.

Mr. Lynn was eighty-one years old last April. He came to this county in 1867 when he was a young man of eighteen and on his first trip remained here for a year, when he returned to his former home in Virginia. He returned here five years later to spend the remainder of his days here. Following his return here he bought an eighty acre farm five miles southwest of Grundy Center where he built a home and reared his large family. As he became financially able he enlarged his land holdings until he had acquired a half section. He continued to make his home here until 1910 when he and Mrs. Lynn came to town where they since lived in retirement.

The many who have come and gone during the many years that Mr. Lynn resided in this county learned to honor, to trust and to respect him. He came as near to living after the pattern of the Golden Rule as is humanly possible. He was honest, industrious and always considerate for the welfare of others. His neighbors and others who knew him best loved him most. He lived a complete life and he goes to his final reward with a revered and an unblemished record that is a fitting memorial to a long and useful life. This community will cherish the memory of John Lynn for as many years as are left to those who learned to know and to love him.

Mr. Lynn was born in Cumberland, Alleghany county, Maryland, April 9, 1847. A few years later he removed with his parents to Bedford county, Pa. At the age of ten his parents removed to Loudoun county, Virginia, where he grew to manhood and acquired his education. When a young man of twenty he started westward with Grundy county as his destination. A year later, in 1868, he returned to his home in Virginia, where he remained until 1873.

On October 15th, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Dowdell. The year following he brought his bride to Grundy county, reaching here on March 9th, 1873.

Mr. Lynn left home during the Civil War and enlisted in the Confederate service. He was under age but was accepted as a member of Mosby's Battalion, Forty-third Virginia cavalry. At Sicker's Gap he was taken prisoner and was sent to Harper's Ferry; two weeks later he was taken to Ft. McHenry, thence down the bay to Point Lookout and from there he was sent to Savannah, Georgia, where he was exchanged Nov. 4th, 1864. He then returned to his company and continued in active service until the close of the war when he went to Winchester, Va., where he was paroled. He saw hard service, doing scouting duty most of the time. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in his company.

Mr. Lynn held many positions of public trust during his long lifetime in this county and in every position that he occupied he left a record of honesty and efficiency.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lynn. Eight of them together with the mother are living. A daughter, Effie, died during infancy. Two sons, Grover and Graham, died of meningitis in 1908. The surviving children are Mrs. L. D. Coffman, Harry, Ralph, Walter, Mrs. Bert Davidson, Richard, Ercil and Fenton.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 November 1928, pg 1