Edward J Lynett, editor and proprietor of The Scranton Times , and who has made for himself a notable record in the field of journalism, as head of one of the most influential newspapers of Pennsylvania, was born in Dunmore, Lackawanna county, 15 Jul 1857.
His father, William Lynett, was born in county Sligo, Ireland, in 1820, and came to America in his sixteenth year. For a time he resided in New York, thence removing to the Dunmore settlement, near Scranton, where he lived upwards of fifty years and until his death. He was a competent and successful mining contractor. A man of good practical education and business ability, he was influential in the community and was called to various public positions, serving as school director and treasurer, and borough treasurer. He was a Democrat in politics, and wielded a potent influence. He married Catherine Dowd, and their children were: Ann, who became the wife of Thomas F Cawley, of Dunmore; Margaret, who died in infancy; Mary, deceased wife of D F Boland, of Scranton; Edward J, of whom further; Catherine, who became the wife of Thomas N Cullen, of Scranton; Margaret, unmarried; Ellen, who was a teacher in the Scranton public schools, and died unmarried. William Lynett died in 1891, his wife surviving until 20 Nov 1896.
Edward J Lynett was educated in the borough schools and the Millersville State Normal School. His first work was in a coal breaker, but his abilities were soon recognized, and at the age of sixteen he became deputy clerk in the mayor's court, in which position he served acceptably for a period of three years ending with the abolition of the court. He subsequently spent a year in law studies in the offices of D W and J F Connolly. His predilection, however, was for journalism, in which field he was destined to become eminently useful and successful. Taking employment as a reporter on the Scranton Free Press , a Sunday publication, he developed marked ability, and was soon made editor and manager, and served in this twofold capacity until 10 Oct 1895, when he purchased The Scranton Times , of which he has been owner and responsible editor to the present time. On becoming owner, Mr Lynett devoted all his energies to the development of The Times , and its character, circulation and prestige steadily advanced. In 1901 more ample quarters became necessary, and Mr Lynett erected the present Times Building, in which he installed a complete newspaper and job printing equipment, in all respects adequate for every modern need. Beginning with The Times when its circulation was a scant three thousand, the smallest of any paper in the city, he advanced it to 40,000 copies, more than that of all other city newspapers combined. Such success affords ample evidence of Mr Lynett's possession of every quality necessary to a leader in journalism in a particularly insistent day -- literary ability, integrity of purpose, and business ability. Honest and fearless, even aggressive when need be, he has at all times championed the interests of the people at large, defending them in their rights and earnestly contending for the remedying of their wrongs. His public spirit has constantly been reflected in The Times in the initiation and furtherance of various salutary measures and enterprises, and with entire unselfishness he has ever heartily seconded every laudable effort to similar ends, no matter by whom conceived or urged. While the material reward has not been meagre, his greatest pride is, in the true spirit of the conscientious journalist, that he is recognized as the maker of a clean, honest and well appreciated newspaper, the most popular and most liberally supported in the city.
While The Times is his first care, Mr Lynett has given useful personal service to the community in various capacities. He was for three years a member of the Dunmore borough school board; burgess of Dunmore borough for two years; was for thirteen years secretary of the Scranton poor district; member of the mine cave commission, 1911-13; and for several years a director of the Associated Charities of Scranton. He is vice-president of the Dime Savings Bank; president of the Paragon Plaster Company; and is interested in several other industrial and commercial companies. A Democrat in politics, he has attended many party conventions; he was also a delegate from his congressional district in the Democratic national conventions of 1900 and 1908, and a delegate at large in that of 1912. He is a communicant of St Peter's Roman Catholic Church; was a delegate to the National Catholic Congress held in Chicago in 1893; and is connected actively with various societies affiliated with the church -- the Catholic Club, Holy Name Society, and the Knights of Columbus. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Scranton Press Club, and the Scranton Club.
Mr Lynett married, 30 Sep 1896, Nellie A Ruddy, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Nallin) Ruddy, her father a merchant of Scranton. Children: William R, born 10 Sep 1899; Elizabeth R, 23 Jun 1903; Edward J Jr, 25 Jul 1906. The oldest son, William R, is a student at St Thomas College; the other children attend public schools.