Romulus Z. Linney, M. D.
When Dr. Romulus Z. Linney took up his residence at Hopeton, in 1904,
there was added to the citizenship of that thriving Oklahoma village
an individual whose professional skill and willingness to cooperate
in public-spirited movements were to prove of inestimable value to
the community. Since his arrival here, he has not only attained
prominence in the line of his calling, but has become one of the
large landholders of his county, and while his personal interests
have been extensive and important, demanding much of his attention,
he has never been too busy to contribute of his best abilities in the
interest of progress and civic development.
Doctor Linney is a
man of good birth, excellent breeding and fine mental endowment. He
was born July 1, 1877, at Taylorsville, North Carolina, a son of
Romulus Z. and Dorcas A. (Stephenson) Linney, and a grandson of Dr.
J. C. and Martha Linney, natives of Tennessee. The father was born in
1844, at Guilford, North Carolina, the fourth of his parents’
children, and during the Civil war enlisted in a North Carolina
infantry regiment in the Confederate army, subsequently participating
in a number of engagements and being seriously wounded at the battle
of Chancellorsville. At the age of twenty-two years he began the study
of law in the office of Judge Nathaniel Folk, an eminent jurist of
North Carolina, and after graduating from York Institute, North
Carolina, and being admitted to practice, he began to follow his
profession. He soon attracted to himself a large and important
practice, and as the years passed began to become a prominent figure
in public life. In 1884 he was elected to the legislature of North
Carolina, from Alexander County, serving four years in that body and
making a distinguished record as a legislator, lie was the author of
a number of important measures, including the enactment of the law
establishing the famous
“June Bug” Railroad in that state, and the bill giving the state
amended livestock laws. He served on the committees on judiciary and
other important questions and was always known as an active, working
member. In 1888 Mr. Linney was elected to the Senate of the state,
where he also made a brilliant record which brought him favorably
before the people as a candidate for Congress, to which body he was
elected in 1896, from the Eighth Congressional District of North
Carolina. He served in the United States House of Representatives for
three successive terms, and during that time was a member of numerous
important committees and secured the passage of much important
legislation. Mr. Linney retired of his
own volition in 1902 and returned to his home town of Taylorsville,
where he reengaged in practice and again made a statewide reputation
as a criminal lawyer. He died April 20, 1910, when his community lost
one of its most able professional men. Mr. Linney was married in 1863
to Miss Dorcas A. Stephenson, who was born June 29, 1840, at
Taylorsville, North Carolina, was graduated at Davenport College, at
Lenoir, North Carolina, and was long known as an active religious and
charitable worker. She was the third daughter of James F. and Martha
(Allen) Stephenson, and died at Taylorsville, North Carolina, March
20, 1904, aged sixty-four years. Romulus Z. and Dorcas A. Linney were
the parents of four daughters and two sons, namely; Isadore and Ola,
twins, born in 1869; Hester C., born in 1871; Blanche, born in 1873;
Frank A., born in 1875, now a resident of Boone, North Carolina,
where he is one of the leading lawyers of his part of the state, has
served three terms as state’s attorney, and at present is chairman of
the State Republican Central Committee; and Romulus Z., of this
review.
Romulus Z. Linney
early evidenced the studious habits which have so aided him in the
attainment of a position of prominence in his profession. After
completing his preliminary schooling at his native place, he entered
Trinity College, Durham, North Carolina, and in 1897 matriculated at
the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, where he was graduated from
the medical department in the class of 1900. He subsequently
furthered his training by attendance at the Georgetown University, D.
C., graduating in 1901, and later took, in 1915, a post-graduate
course at a New York medical college. From 1900 until 1902 Doctor
Linney served as private secretary to his father, in Congress, and in
1904 came to Oklahoma, locating at Hopeton, where he almost
immediately attracted to himself an extensive practice, which has
grown in volume and importance as the years have passed. He is at
present local surgeon for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad,
has been for two years county physician of Woods County, served three
years as president of the Woods County Medical Association, and for
ten years has been president of the United States Board of Pension
Examiners at Alva, Oklahoma. His fraternal connections are with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. Doctor Linney has a firm and abiding belief in the
future of Woods County and has invested his capital in Woods County
property, being at the present time the owner of 640 acres of
valuable wheat land, adjoining Hopeton, all under cultivation and
yielding him excellent returns. All of this property has been
accumulated from the earnings of his practice. To his professional
equipment, the doctor adds a delightful manner and many ingratiating
qualities, and his friends, once won, are retained indefinitely.
On June 17, 1901, at
Washington, D. C., Doctor Linney was married to Miss Texie N.
Townsend, who was born May 7, 1878, at Hickory, North Carolina, daughter of Rev. Noah and
Anna (Linthicum) Townsend, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Linney is a lady
of many accomplishments and a graduate of Woods College of
Washington, D. C., in which city she was reared. Doctor and Mrs.
Linney have one son: Zack, who was born April 26, 1902, at Lenoir,
North Carolina. He was educated at Missouri Military Academy, of
Mexico, Missouri.