LYNCH, M.J. - Putnam

Illustrated 1910: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers Indianapolis, Indiana Author: Jesse W. Weik

Page: 605

About the middle of the last century Ireland sent over to this country a young man of more than usual promise, who was destined to make a name for himself in America. He studied medicine and became noted as Dr. M. J. Lynch. He settled in Greencastle about 1849 and being a man of classical education, was appointed teacher of Latin at Asbury University. Like most Irishmen, he had a natural turn for politics and his activities secured him an appointment as consul to Ireland under President Buchanan. His skill and reputation in medicine caused him to be sent to Pittsburg Landing as an expert on smallpox. Doctor Lynch married into a historic and distinguished family. Many years ago a widow named Gillespie came from Ohio with her four daughters and three sons, and erected a house on West Washington street in Greencastle, which afterwards became a landmark as the Gillespie homestead. The house now standing was built in 1830 of brick made on the ground and logs cut nearby. The family owned a tan yard, which was conducted by Daniel G. Thomas and James Gillespie, and became a notable as well as a valuable industry during the early days of the county. It was Leah Gillespie, one of the three daughters, who became the wife of Doctor Lynch. She was a school teacher in her younger lays and a woman of more than the usual attractions of both mind and person. She was related to James G. Blaine, whose mother was a Gillespie, and gave that distinguished statesman his middle name. Doctor and Mrs. Lynch had eight children: Tames E., deceased: John T., a railroad conductor at Cairo, Illinois: Daniel, deceased: William Wallace, deceased; the fifth child died in infancy: Edmund B. and Emmett, Michael and Paul A., deceased. Doctor Lynch died in October, 1879 in his fiftieth year, his wife passing away in 1891 when sixty-six years old.

Edmund B. Lynch, sixth of his father's children, was born at Greencastle, Indiana, April 13, 1862. He attended the public schools for some years, but before he was out of his teens he began railroading. His first job was in the yards of the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad Company, where he worked at switching during the year 1879. He then went to the Indianapolis & St. Louis road as a brakeman, which position he held for a year and gave up to accept a place with the Wabash & Missouri Pacific in transportation work. In i88j he returned to the Indianapolis & St. Louis and was appointed conductor, in which capacity he had charge of a train until 1886. Later he served as conductor on many roads, including the ''Cotton Belt." From 1888 to 1895 he was with the St. Louis & Southwestern: from 1894 to 1895 was a passenger conductor between Cairo, Illinois, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In June, 1905 he quit the railroad business, came to Greencastle and bought the furniture and undertaking plant of W. P. Ledbetter, which has since occupied his attention, carrying a stock valued at about ten thousand dollars. He also owns a farm of thirty-five acres and belongs to the class of citizens described as well-to-do. Mr. Lynch is a thirty second-degree Mason, being connected with the Consistory and Shrine at Indianapolis, and the Greencastle lodges of the order. He is also a member of Lodge No. 45, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 16, and the Elks Lodge, No. 1077, at Greencastle. While in Arkansas in 1890 he was commissioned as deputy United States marshal, and served one year. On December 23, 1891, Mr. Lynch married Fanny, daughter of Lewis Moore and a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She met her future husband after her removal to Pine Bluff. Arkansas. They have had five children: Edmund B.. Jr., born at Pine Bluff'. Arkansas, in 1S96; Paul Fleming, born in 1S94; John Earl, born in 1S96: Arthur Moore, born at Greencastle in 1898; Ralph, who was born in 1901. died the next year. Mrs. Lynch, the subject's wife, died on January 15, 1910, after an illness of about one year. The family are Baptists. The subject is a Democrat in his political belief. The subject's mother brought the first cook stove into Putnam county. Her mother. Katherine. was the best posted woman on Scripture in the county. Three generations have occupied the house and three acres of ground which constitute the present home of Mr. Lynch. It is located at the foot of West Washington and Gillespie streets, the latter being named in honor of the original owners. The place was noted for the hospitality of the mother and grandmother and the other members of this fine old family.