• Born: 8 November 1831, Lawrence County, Illinois, USA
• Marriage (1): Catherine CLUBB on 11 April 1859 in Richland County, Illinois, USA ¹
• Marriage (2): Tempa UNK about 1861 in prob Illinois, USA
• Marriage (3): Margaret L. NELSON on 20 January 1862 in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA ¹
• Died: 8 August 1906, Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA at age 74
• Buried: 10 August 1906, Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA

  General Notes

http://genealogytrails.com/ill/richland/bios4.html

COL. JOHN LYNCH, of Olney, was born in what was then a part of Lawrence County but is now the township of Olney, Richland County, November 8, 1831. His father, William Lynch, was born near the city of Dublin, Ireland, was reared on the Emerald Isle and there acquired a good education. In his younger days he was for several years a book-keeper for a London mercantile firm, and for some time represented the interests of the house at Cape Town, whence he came to the United States. He located in eastern Illinois about 1820 and there met his future wife, then Mrs. Shields. Her maiden name was Ann Bullard. She was born in Rowan County, N. C., near the city of Salisbury, May 20, 1798, and was a daughter of John Bullard. His father was an Englishman by birth. It was related of him that, having been bound out to learn the trade of a wheelwright, he became dissatisfied, ran away and went to sea and in due time became a resident of South Carolina. Later he went to North Carolina, where he lived until his death. These events occurred before the War of the Revolution. His only son, John Bullard, served in the war for the independence of the Colonies. He was but a boy when the war began, and his father having died previous to that time, he lived at home, assisting in the care of the family. A party of Tories, scouring the country, called at his mother's house, and although he was then but a boy of fourteen years they captured him and compelled him to accompany them. By the kindness and sympathy of one of his captors, however, he was allowed to escape, and concealed himself in the woods near his home, where he was supplied with food by his mother. He thus remained hidden until such a time as he could join Gen. Marion's forces, which he soon did. He participated in the defense of Ft. Moultrie against the British fleet and witnessed the gallant and historical act of Sergt. Jasper, who, when the flag was shot away by the British, sprang over the parapet and, seizing the colors, restored them to their place on the fort.

After the war Mr. Bullard settled down in his native State, where he remained until 1812, when, on account of his opposition to slavery, he resolved to remove from under its influence. Accordingly he emigrated with his family to the Territory of Indiana. The year following he had the misfortune to lose his life, dying of a prevailing disease, called by the pioneers the "cold plague," probably the disease known to-day as congestive chills. Two sons died about the same time of the same disease. Five sons and three daughters survived the parents, but all have now passed from the scenes of this life. The last survivor was Amos Bullard, who died in Texas about 1888. He was formerly a well-known citizen of Olney, and was Commissioner of Richland County at the time the city was laid out. In fact, all the family became well-known citizens.

The mother of our subject was born in 1798, and in 1817 was married to her first husband, Thomas Shields, who at his death left the mother with five children, only one of whom is now living, Mrs. Mary Gibbs, of California. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Shields left her home in Missouri and came to Lawrence County, Ill. In 1830 she became the wife of Mr. Lynch, who died five years later. Col. Lynch and a daughter are the children of this marriage. The. latter is now Mrs. Margaret Brewer, of Olney. In November, 1839, Mrs. Lynch became the wife of Bryant Higgins. Her death occurred in the autumn of 1876, in her seventy-ninth year.

Col. Lynch was born and reared in what is now Richland County. There were no public schools then established here and he was fourteen years of age before he learned to read. A subscription school for a short time during the year furnished the educational facilities of those days on the frontier, and nine months of schooling distributed through several years constituted his advantages for an education. He was reared to the occupation of farming.

On the 14th of March, 1858, Col. Lynch married Miss Catherine Clubb, who died November 21, 1860. On the 20th of January, 1862, he was married to Miss Margaret Nelson, daughter of John and Elsie (Maglone) Nelson, both of Irish ancestry. The father, who was born in Virginia, removed with his parents to South Carolina, thence to Tennessee, and in 1821 went to Posey County, Ind. He was twice married and had three children by the first union. Mrs. Lynch is one of the eight children born of the second marriage. Of these there were two sons and six daughters. The eleven children of John Nelson all grew to mature years, but one son and two daughters are now deceased. The father died February 13, 1872, and the mother November 21, 1873.

Col. Lynch was among the first to respond to the call of the President for volunteers to suppress the rebellion. On the 19th of April, 1861, he organized a company for three months' service, which became Company D of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, and of this company he was made Captain. The regiment was commanded by Col. Oglesby, afterward General, and later Governor of Illinois. Col. Lynch had of course received no military training and he soon found that his want of knowledge of military matters was likely to stand in the way of his success as an officer. He accordingly did what probably no other officer of his rank in the State of Illinois did during the war.

He resigned his commission as Captain after commanding the company one month, and voluntarily took a place in the ranks, where he served during the remainder of his term. After the regiment was mustered out he assisted in raising Company E of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and on its organization was made First Lieutenant and was regularly promoted through all the grades, as Captain, Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, until he became Colonel of the regiment, which he commanded for over a year. He was mustered out with that rank in November, 1865. He thus rose from the ranks by meritorious conduct, skill and bravery on the field of battle. His regiment joined Gen. Sherman's army in Memphis in August, 1862, and took part in the Central Mississippi campaign under Gen. Grant in the winter of 1862-63, going into winter quarters at La Grange, Tenn., January 13, of the latter year. On the 17th of April following he started on Grierson's famous raid from La Grange to Baton Rouge, La. This was the most famous cavalry raid made during the war on either side, not excepting Morgan's raid into Ohio soon after, which was doubtless prompted by the success of Grierson's raid and in retaliation therefore. But while the former was a complete success the Morgan raid was a total failure, resulting in the destruction or capture of nearly the entire Confederate force. Grierson's command rode nearly through the Stale of Mississippi, traveling eight hundred and thirty miles in sixteen and a-half days, an average of fifty miles per day. During the raid seven battles were fought with the Confederates, who vainly sought to capture the Yankee troopers. Instead, our army destroyed on the route thirteen miles of the Vicksburg, Jackson, Brandon & Southern Railroad, and one hundred miles of the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railway. In this memorable raid the Union forces sustained a loss of but seventeen men. On their arrival they reported to Gen. Banks and took part in the siege of Port Hudson. The Mississippi being now open, the command returned by that route to Memphis, from which place it was engaged in scouting during the fall and early winter in western Tennessee and northern Mississippi, in the course of which the regiment, which was in advance of the main force, met a. large force of rebels under Gen. Steven U. Lee at Moscow, Tenn., and was badly cut up. On the 11th of February the command started under Gen. William S. Smith to form a junction with Gen. W. T. Sherman at Meridian, Miss., but was driven back from West Point, Miss.

Soon after the regiment re-enlisted as veterans and in the spring of 1864 reported for duty and was engaged in scouting until October, when it was ordered to join Gen. Thomas near Florence, Ala. The troops fell back with Thomas to Nashville, taking part in the meantime in the battle of Franklin against the confederates under Gen. Forest. They took part in the battle of Nashville, assisting in the defeat of Gen. Hood, and driving the Confederate forces across the Tennessee River. They went into camp at Gravelly Springs, Ala., in January, 1865, and in February crossed the river to Eastport, Miss., and scouted through that part of the country until the surrender of Gen. Lee, when they were mustered out of the United States service, November 5, 1865, at Sol ma, Ala., being discharged from Camp Butler in the latter part of the same month.

Although the Colonel participated in a large number of engagements and was so long exposed to the dangers of war, he escaped without wounds, though many times he did so narrowly. His horse was shot from under him and the scabbard of his sword was hit a number of times by the bullets of the enemy. On another occasion he was thrown from his horse, receiving severe injuries.

By his first marriage, Col. Lynch became the father of one child, William, who died in his third year. By his present union have been born three children. John, born January 13, 1865, is now engaged in the practice of law in Olney; Frank, born October 10, 1868, is also a lawyer, resides in Chicago and is Assistant State's Attorney; Tinnie, the only daughter, is at home. She was graduated from the High School of Olney in the Class of '92. In early life Col. Lynch was a Democrat and voted for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, but in 1864, while at home on a leave of absence during the war, he supported Abraham Lincoln. He is Past Commander of Eli Howyer Post No. 92, G. A. R.; and Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of Illinois. His cordial and genial manner and sterling worth have made Col. Lynch a popular and respected citizen. Although his advantages for education in his boyhood days were exceedingly limited, he has ever been a great reader and is well informed on the general issues of the day. This great fact, combined with his large experience, makes him an interesting and instructive companion. Honored as a soldier, he is alike esteemed as a citizen.

[Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties Illinois, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Governors of the State, and the Presidents of the United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), p.46 - Submitted by Judy Edwards]

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  Birth Notes

now Olney Township, Richland County, Illinois, USA

  Burial Notes

Haven Hill Cemetery

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He appeared on the 1880 US Federal Census on 1 June 1880 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA.
  John Lynch       48
  Margaret Lynch       37
  John Lynch       15
  Frank Lynch       11
  Timmie Lynch       6

• He appeared on the 1900 US Federal Census on 5 June 1900 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA.
  John Lynch       68
  Tinnie O Lynch       26
  George N Lynch       17

John married Catherine CLUBB on 11 April 1859 in Richland County, Illinois, USA.¹ (Catherine CLUBB was born about 1835 in prob Illinois, USA ³ and died on 21 November 1860 in Richland County, Illinois, USA.)

  Recorded Events about their Marriage

• They have conflicting marriage information of 14 March 1858 and Richland County, Illinois, USA.

John next married Tempa UNK about 1861 in prob Illinois, USA. (Tempa UNK was born in 1833 in prob Illinois, USA, died in 1887 in prob Illinois, USA and was buried in 1887 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA.)

John next married Margaret L. NELSON, daughter of John M. NELSON and Elizabeth MAGLONE, on 20 January 1862 in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA.¹ (Margaret L. NELSON was born on 21 November 1843 in Richland County, Illinois, USA,^{4 5} died on 25 November 1895 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA and was buried in 1895 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA.)