Biography - J Lynch
J. A. LYNCH. In no line so much as in the liquor business has a buyer to rely so much on the knowledge and representations of the seller, therefore it is pleasant to note the name of a house having a special name for reliability. The firm of Lynch Bros, is one of the most prominent and reliable in the city of Nokomis, and its members are men of enterprise and excellent business acumen. J. A. Lynch, the senior member of the firm, is a native of the "Sucker State," born in Litchfield, Montgomery County, January 18, 1867, and is one of seven children born to Martin and Nora Lynch, now residents of Litchfield.
Martin Lynch was born in the North of Ireland, and came to America about the year 1845, locating at Crawfordsville, Ind., where he was engaged by what is now known as the Big Four Railroad and was for years section boss at different points on the line of the road. For twenty years he has been thus engaged at Litchfield. He is a gentleman of much enterprise and ambition and from him our subject has no doubt inherited his good judgment and business ability. The seven children born to the marriage of this worthy man were in the order of their births as follows: Ella, wife of Adam Linck, of Litchfield; M. J., retired from business and residing at Mattoon, Ill.; Kate is the wife of P. J. Kenary, a popular conductor on the Wabash Railroad, who resides at Decatur; T. M., in the liquor business at Sullivan, Ill.; J. A. (our subject); D. P., of the grain firm of F. A. Masher & Co., of Terre Haute, Ind., and Mary A., who has just graduated at the Ursuline Academy at Litchfield, and is now residing with her parents at that place.
The original of this notice was reared in Litchfield, and was a student in Ursuline Academy until his thirteenth year, at which age he had mastered telegraphy, picking it up at odd times. When fourteen years of age, he was placed in charge of the office at Litchfield, and, as far as we have been able to learn, was the youngest boy who had filled a like position up to that time. He was thoroughly familiar with the art, and continued in the office at Litchfield for several years. From there he went to Mattoon, where his brother was train dispatcher, entered the office, and there continued for some time. Subsequently he went to St. Louis, became assistant train dispatcher, holding this responsible position when but a boy, and remaining for some time.
Returning to his native place he continued as telegraph operator until 1888, when he resigned his position to engage in the liquor business with his brother at Litchfield. In this business he remained until July, 1891, when he was again seized with a desire to return to his former occupation. He went to Denison, Tex., and worked in an office at that place for a few months but it soon lost its charm and he returned to Illinois. He resumed business with his brother in the saloon at Mattoon, where he conducted that business until he came to Nokomis to take charge of the business at that place.
These brothers, active, enterprising and progressive as they are, have a saloon at Sullivan, one at Mattoon and another at Nokomis. They handle the products of the best distilleries, and all their goods are noted for their purity and age, and their stock in all lines is full and complete. Although the history of this house in Nokomis is comparatively short, it has already readied a position among the leading houses in its line in that city, and its trade is constantly increasing in volume. Our subject is a great favorite with the railroad boys and a very agreeable and genial young man.
Extracted 04 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, page 249-250.
