LYNN, JOSEPH C., a prosperous grain farmer and stock raiser of township 19, range 8, resides on 240 acres of fine land on section 20, He was born in Cass County, Ill., March 28, 1873, a son of T. T. Lynn, born in Sangamon County, Ill., December 15, 1830, and his wife Letitia (Hickey) Lynn, born in Menard County, April 7, 1832.
T. T. Lynn, a well known farmer and stock raiser, is a son of the man who introduced shorthorn cattle into Cass County. A pioneer of the region, the grandfather of Joseph C. Lynn, came here in the spring of 1831, from the vicinity of Pleasant Plains, Sangamon County, Ill. The grandmother came to Illinois, from Tennessee, in 1831 accompanying her husband to Cass County, the trip being made in a covered wagon, she riding a portion of the way on horseback. T. T. Lynn accumulated all but 125 acres of his immense estate after coming to Cass County. He saw some very high water in 1844, and had many interesting and unusual experiences in those early days. He broke prairie land with six head of oxen drawing his plow which was first made with a wood mold-board, but later he used a rod moldboard. At the time of the family settlement in the county, there were plenty of deer, turkeys and wolves. After the arrival of the family in Cass County they lived in a log house built on 167 acres of land, but the holdings now amount to 965 acres in Cass County and 160 acres in Mason County. Mrs. T. T. Lynn died January 14, 1893, and was buried in the Hickey cemetery. The children of T. T. and Letitia Lynn were: Frances, deceased, buried in Hickey cemetery; and John C., Letitia, Sally A., James W., Timothy T. Jr., Mary B. and Joseph C.
Joseph C. Lynn was educated in the schools of his neighborhood, and learned farming in his boyhood and has followed that vocation all of his mature years. He is now living on 240 acres of the estate, the original homestead. He belongs to Chandlerville Lodge No. 724, A.F. & A.M., and DeWitt Chapter No. 119, R.A.M. For some years the Oakford Methodist church has held his membership. In politics he is a Republican.
On March 29, 1894, Mr. Lynn was married in Cass County, to Jennie E. Smith, born in Morgan County, Ill., September 5, 1870, a daughter of Isaac Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn have had the following children: Joseph V., born February 8, 1895; Letitia, born August 14, 1896; Stanley C., born March 19, 1898; Harold W., born September 8, 1899; Marion D., born February 26, 1904; Richard n., born February 19, 1907; Ruth E., born November 29, 1909; and Marjorie E., born June 6, 1902, died August 29, 1903, buried in Hickey Cemetery.