James Linn and Family

(Contributed by Samuel Booher [Brierly] Linn)

JAMES LINN was born in the year 1792, and brought up on his father's farm until twenty years of age, when the war of 1812 with Great Britain called the yoemen of the country to arms in defence of the Nation's honor and sense of justice. He at once volunteered to enter the service and joined a company which was recruited at Concord, Pennsylvania. His father, Hugh Linn, who had imbibed the spirit of a true American patriot, acccompanied his son on a two days' journey on his way to the front, and on parting with him said, "My son, be a good soldier, and never turn back a coward."

The memories of the battle of the Boyne water and the spirit of religious intolerance which had been so fierce in the Emerald Isle between the "Orange" and the "Green" had been transplanted, and one day in camp he expressed himself concerning St. Patrick's followers in language more vigorous than polite. Several soldiers who were devotees of the patron saint pounced upon him and by main strength threw him into the camp fire. Being a very active man, he was immediately upon his feet, rushed to his gun and would have bayonetted his assailants had not cooler heads prevailed. They attempted to have the superior officer punish him, but when he learned the nature of the offence (being himself probably an Orangeman), he said he had done right, and should use his bayonet if attacked again.

James Linn was a class leader in the Methodist Church, a position of distinction in those days. He had six sons and one daughter. Four of his sons enlisted in the service during the Civil War, and his son-in-law, Charles W. Evans, was also in the army.

NANCY (BOOHER) LINN, youngest child of Caspar Booher, was born in Huntindon County, Pennsylvania, in 1798, and married James Linn 1st in 1815. Her father was a class leader in the Methodist Church, and she became a member of the church in the year she was married. Her father lived to see all his children members of that church, and long afterward his daughter could say with him, "I have lived to see all my children follow my example." The day was never too warm nor too cold to attend divine service. When the infirmities of age came to her, her chief companion was the Bible, and it was her daily study. Of a truth she was a good woman, and when her work in life seemed done she was anxious to depart and be with Christ. She slept in peace in the year 1877.

[Text from "History of a Fragment of the Clan Linn," 1905, p. 174-175]

[Corrections to the original text that I know about are shown in red]