Lynn, Luther

BIOGRAPHIES
1905 PAST and PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY ILLINOIS

Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.


Page 495

LUTHER LYNN, who came to Carrollton in 1864 and entered upon his business career as a clerk in the store of Robert Clark, has steadily worked his way upward until he stands at the head of one of the leading department stores of Carrollton, and his enterprise has been a valued factor in the commercial development and consecutive business progress of the city.

A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, he was born on the 15th of July, 1847, and is a son of William Lynn, a native of Ireland. His grandfather, John Lynn, also born on the Emerald Isle, came to America about 1796, only a short time after the establishment of the republic. He resided for a year at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and then removed to Tennessee, where he spent his remaining days as a merchant and planter. William Lynn came to the United States in early boyhood and throughout his business career was a merchant, conducting a dry-goods business for a long period in Kingsport, Tennessee. There he met and married Miss Mary Everett, a native of that city, and they became the parents of seven children.

Luther Lynn, the youngest of the family, spent the days of his early youth under the parental roof and in 1864, when seventeen years of age, he started out in life on his own account, making his way northward to Carrollton, where he had relatives living and where he attended school for a time. In that city he secured a position as clerk in a dry-goods store and was employed in the capacity of salesman by various houses until the spring of 1876, when he entered the store of McFarland & Robinson. The following year Mr. Robinson retired and in January, 1878, Charles H. Weagley entered into partnership with Mr. McFarland under the firm name of McFarland & Weagley. Four years later the firm was changed to McFarland, Weagley & Company. Mr. Lynn becoming one of the partners. In January, 1886, Mr. Weagley retired and business was carried on under the firm style of McFarland & Lynn for six years or until 1892, when the name was changed to the McFarland & Lynn Dry Goods Company. In 1897 it was changed to Lynn, Davis & Fain, and in 1903 the business was incorporated under the style of Lynn, Fain & Davis Dry Goods Company, with Luther Lynn as president; Richard G. Fain, vice-president; and Edward L. Davis, secretary and treasurer. It is now conducted under this management and the business has become so extensive that their establishment ranks with the leading commercial enterprises of the county. They carry a large line of dry goods, boots and shoes and men and women's wearing apparel, and their trade has constantly grown, fostered by progressive and modern business methods and the enterprising spirit of the members of the firm. They occupy three adjoining stores with a frontage of sixty feet on West Main street, extending from the northeast corner of the square, and their stock occupies two floors of the corner store. They have done a most satisfactory business and their sales annually return to them a good income.

In November, 1872, Mr. Lynn was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Carter, of Greenfield, Illinois, who died in August, 1901. For his second wife he chose Addie Hubbard, a native of this county and a daughter of William Hubbard and a sister of William A. Hubbard, editor of the Gazette.

Fraternally Mr. Lynn is an Odd Fellow, and politically a Republican. He has served as alderman but prefers to promote the city's interests in other ways than as a public official. His co-operation, however, can always be counted upon to further any movement for the general good and he has been the champion of many measures which have had a far-reaching and beneficial influence. As he has prospered in his business he has made judicious investments in real estate and he now owns valuable property adjoining the corporation limits of Carrollton, as well as his attractive home in the city. He stands to-day as a splendid type of a self-made man, watchful of opportunity and steadily advancing in his business career, his history proving what can be accomplished through determined and honorable purpose, guided by sound judgment.


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