William Simon Lynn

Served as a Private in Company F of the 178th Pennsylvania (November 2, 1862 - July 27, 1863) during the Civil War. The 178th Pennsylvania was a regiment of drafted militia men. On the Company Roster Linn is spelled Lynn. In his youth William Simon was six feet two and a half inches tall, had a light complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. In his later years he was bald and had an enormous beard. William Simon was missing the middle finger of his right hand because it was bitten off by a horse. William and his wife Susan enjoyed smoking clay pipes. One of William Simon's younger brothers Henry Linn (born 1836) joined Company A "The Iron Guard" of the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Pennsylvania Reserves) organized in Columbia County during the Civil War. Henry was mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam. Henry died March 31, 1863 in Fredrick, Maryland and is buried in the National Battlefield Cemetery. After the Civil War was over William Simon began work on the railroad, called the Catawissa Railroad, later to become the Reading. William Simon was present at the hanging of the Molly McGuire's at the Bloomsburg Court House and brought home a piece of the rope as a souvenir. His army captain, John A. Winner, of Company F, in the 178th, was killed in the streets on Shenandoah, Pennsylvania and he joined a group of veterans who formed a vigilante committee to avenge him. For reasons unknown it never succeeded.

178th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry (Drafted Militia)

Overview: Organized at Harrisburg October 22-November 27, 1862. Moved to Washington, D. C., December 5; thence to Newport News, Va. Attached to Busteed's Brigade, 4th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, December, 1862, to April, 1863. West's Independent Brigade, 4th Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to May, 1863. West's Advance Brigade, 4th Corps, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, King's Division, 22nd Corps, to August, 1863.

Service:Duty at Newport News, Va., till December 29, 1862, and at Yorktown, Va., and on the Peninsula till July 8, 1863. Reconnaissance to Bottom's Bridge July 1-7. Skirmish at Chickahominy July 2. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 8, and duty there till July 27. Mustered out July 27, 1863.

Regiment lost during service 10 by disease.

William Simon Linn was born on July 13, 1834 in Union County, Pennsylvania. He was Christened on September 6, 1834.

Per the 1850 Census William S., 16, was living with his parents Simon Linn, 45, Rebecca Linn, 42, and his siblings George, 17, Henry 14, Rebecca 13, Susanna 11, Simon 9, Maria 7, Daniel 5, and John, 1 month old. Additionally William S.'s 91 year old grandmother Elizabeth Linn, 91, was living with them in Montour Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

Per the 1860 Census William Linn, 24, was living with his parents, Simon, 49, Rebecca, 46, and his siblings: George, 24, Henry, 22, Susan, 19, Simon, 17, Barbara, 8, and his Aunt Mary Houck, 54 in Montour Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

Per family history William Simon Linn married Susanne Kashner on August 30, 1860 in Danville, Pennsylvania.

Per the 1870 Census William S. Linn was living with his wife Susan, 29, and their children Mary E., 10, William H. 7, George W. 6, John S. 5, and Daniel F. 5 months old in Catawissa Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. In 1870 William S. Linn stated that his profession was working on the railroad.

Per the 1880 Census William S. Linn, 45 years old, lived in Mifflin Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania with his wife Susan and their children: George W. 16, John S. 14, Daniel F. 12, Charles A. 10, Thomas C. 8, Fannie E. 6, and Catherine 0. Per the 1880 Census William S. Linn listed his birthdate as 1835 and his occupation as Railroad Laborer. William S. Linn also stated that he was born in Pennsylvania and that both his parents, Simon and Rebecca were also born in Pennsylvania.

Per the 1900 Census William S. Linn, 65, was living with his wife Susan, 61, in Montour Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania with their grandchildren Harry, 17, and Carrie A, 16. Their grandson Harry's birthdate is listed as February 1883 and their grand-daughter's birthdate is listed as September 1883. William S. Linn states his birthdate as July, 1834 and Susan states hers as February, 1837. Per the 1900 Census William and Susan were married in 1858.

Per the 1910 Census William S. Linn, 75, was living with his wife Susanne, 70, in Montour Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Living with them was their granddaughter Bertha Linn, 17, (Betha was a daughter of William Henry Linn) and their grandson Jesse E. Linn, 16 (Jesse E. was a son of Daniel Frank Lynn). William S. Linn listed his occupation as Farmer. Bertha and Jesse E. Linn were employed at a Carpet Mill. William S. Linn and Susanne had been married for approximately 49 years. The 1910 Census was taken on April 20, 1910.

Per the 1920 Census William S., 85, was living with his wife Susana, 79, in Montour Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Living with them was their grandson Calvin Derr, 14. Calvin Derr, 14, was the son of their daughter Fannie Emmy Linn and her husband Clinton Derr. Fannie Emmy Derr (Linn) died in 1917. The 1920 Census of Montour Township occurred on January 15, 16, and 17, 1920. William S. Linn died shortly thereafter on February 27, 1920.

On February 24, 1891 William S. Lynn applied for pension benefits for being U.S. Civil War veteran in Company F of the 178th Pennsylvania Drafted Infantry. The attorney's name was W. M. Gearhart.

On March 24, 1920 Susanah Lynn applied for additional pension benefits as a widow of William S. Lynn. William S. Lynn died on February 27, 1920. The attorney's name was W. M. Gearhart.

William S. Linn and his wife Susan Linn (Kashner) are buried at Hillside Cemetery in Catawissa, Pennsylvania. The alternate Lynn spelling is provided on the headstone. Per family history some of the Linn family used 'y' instead of 'i' in their last names because there were so many members of the extended family that worked on the railroad which caused a great amount of confusion in written and printed communications, paychecks, etc. which then necessitated a way to tell one from the other. Both spellings are found in all generations but it is believed that Linn was the original spelling.