BIOGRAPHY: Col. John P. LINTON, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 32-7
____________________________________________________________

COL. JOHN P. LINTON was born in Johnstown, January 26, 1833, and died August 31, 
1892. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grandfather, John Linton, was born 
in County Down, Ireland. While attending McGilligan college he became involved 
in the revolutionary schemes which led up to the outbreak of 1798, and was 
obliged to flee the country. In 1796 he embarked for America, and located at 
Greencastle, Franklin county, this State. There he married, and in 1809 he and 
his family came to Johnstown. They set up the town's first hotel, an old-
fashioned country inn. It was a log-house on the Ellis property, corner of 
Franklin and Locust streets, opposite the property of the late 'Squire Brady. 
Mr. Linton was an engineer and conveyancer. He became postmaster of Johnstown, 
and one of the county's first auditors. He died in 1818, and his remains were 
interred in the old Union graveyard. They were recently interred in Grand View.
     His son, Robert P. Linton, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
sheriff of the county three terms between 1832 and 1856. He fell dead on Main 
street, in front of what is now the Merchants' hotel, in 1879. His wife, who was 
Phoebe Levergood, died when John P. was only eight years of age, but her son did 
not forget her admonitions and example, and his boyhood was spent in close 
application to study in the schools of Johnstown. He also attended Jefferson 
college, at Cannonsburg, one term.
    When eighteen years of age he entered the office of Cyrus L. Pershing, now 
judge of the courts of Schuylkill county, as a student at law. He was admitted 
to the Bar on June 6, 1854, a few months after he had attained his majority, and 
for some years after his admission he and Mr. Pershing were in partnership. When 
the brick building, which now stands at what is known as "the bank corner," was 
erected -- over thirty years ago -- young Linton opened an office for himself in 
the rooms which he occupied during the remainder of his life. He at once 
attracted attention as a safe counselor and accomplished pleader, and soon 
acquired an extensive practice, which he retained until he was no longer able to 
give it attention. It is said that during all his long years of practice he 
never missed attendance at a regular term of court.
     Many of the most important cases, both civil and criminal, tried in the 
county courts during the thirty-eight years of his practice, were conducted by 
him as counsel-in-chief on one side or the other.  He also practiced 
considerably before the State Supreme Court and the courts in our adjoining 
counties.   In point of years of service, he was third on the list of attorneys, 
Hon. John Fenlon and Gen. Joseph McDonald outranking him.  He was an active and 
interested member of the Bar association, serving it in various official 
capacities, and enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence and respect of the 
court and his fellow-attorneys.  He also enjoyed the confidence and respect of 
the court and his fellow-attorneys.  He also enjoyed the confidence of the 
community, and had attained considerable local prominence, taking an active part 
in politics, serving as secretary of the old agricultural society, whose grounds 
were in the sixth ward, and as lieutenant of the military company, which had 
existence long before the Rebellion.
     In 1861, when the clouds of Civil War cast their gloom over the land, 
Lawyer Linton took earnest part for the Union, and at once forsook his practice 
at the Bar for the profession of arms.
     Col. Linton's military record covers the entire period of the war.  On the 
20th of April, 1861, he entered the service for three months as captain of 
company F.  His company and nine volunteer organizations, existing prior to the 
breaking out of the war, were formed into the Third regiment, at Camp Curtin, 
Harris-burg.  The other officers of the company were:  Hugh Bradley, first 
Lieutenant; James C. Noon, second Lieutenant; W. B. Bonaker, first sergeant; 
Michael Woods, second sergeant; Charles Kelly, third sergeant; Edward Connery, 
first corporal, Michael Burns, second corporal; Lewis Caumer, third corporal, 
and Morgan McDonald and George W. Crissinger, musicians.  The company was among 
the first to arrive at Camp Curtain.  The regiment was officered as follows:  
Colonel, Francis P. Minier, Hollidaysburg; Lieutenant-Colonel, John M. Power, 
Johnstown; Major, O. M. Irvine, Pittsburg.  James C. Noon, of company "F," was 
appointed adjutant.  On the evening of April 20th the regiment left Camp Curtin 
for Baltimore.  At Cockeysville, Maryland, the advance was halted by a destroyed 
bridge, and on April the 22d the regiment returned to York and went into camp.  
On the 27th of May the regiment went to Chambersburg and encamped there.  On the 
7th of June the command proceeded by rail to Hagerstown, and the same day 
marched to Funkstown.  Three weeks were spent here.  On July 1st the regiment 
proceeded to Williamsport, and the next day crossed the Potomac.  On the 3d it 
arrived at Martinsburg and encamped.  In a few days it was ordered back to 
Williamsport to guard the wagon trains.  It remained there until July 26, when, 
the time of enlistment, having expired, it was ordered back to Harrisburg and 
mustered out of service on July 29.
     In August and September following the Fifty-Fourth regiment was formed and 
rendezvoused at Camp Curtin.  The regimental officers were: Colonel, Jacob M. 
Campbell, Johnstown; Lieutenant-Colonel, Barnabas McDermitt, Cambria county; 
Major, John P. Linton, Johnstown.  On February 27, 1863, the regiment was 
ordered to Washington and went into camp.    On March 29th it departed for 
Harper's Ferry, and, upon arriving there, reported to Col. Miles and the various 
companies were assigned to guard duty along fifty-six miles of the Baltimore 
& Ohio railroad.  The country was full of guerrillas, and almost daily 
conflicts were had with them.  On the night of May 25th Col. Campbell received 
orders to concentrate his command at South Branch, owing to the approach of 
Stonewall Jackson, to Martinsburg. This was done with considerable difficulty. 
At this point there was a substantial iron bridge, the only one left by the 
rebels during their occupancy the previous summer. This bridge was guarded by 
two companies under command of Major Linton. On July 1 the companies returned to 
their old posts, Jackson having been driven from the valley, but his roving 
bands continued to wander up and down the country, pillaging friend and foe, and 
the Fifty-Fourth was kept constantly on the alert. On September 12th, Col. 
Campbell, with small detachments from companies I and D, proceeded to Back 
creek. There he was reinforced by sixty men under Capt. Long, and proceeded to 
North mountain, where he attacked and routed the enemy's rear guard. Major 
Linton was left with a small detachment at Back creek, and the colonel and his 
men returned to headquarters. Two days later the enemy advanced again on Back 
creek, and Col. Campbell, with several company detachments, returned to the 
support of Maj. Linton. Skirmishing was kept up until the 21st, when Maj. 
Linton's command, attacked by an overwhelming force, was obliged to fall back.
     After the battle of Antietam the Fifty-Fourth was attached to Gen. 
Franklin's command, and later, to that of Gen. Morrell, when it was placed in 
defence of the upper Potomac. Upon the organization of the Eighth corps it was 
assigned to the command of Gen. Kelly. On the 6th of January, 1863, the command 
moved to Romney, where it remained until spring. On July 29th Lieut-Col. 
McDermitt resigned, and Maj. Linton succeeded him, Capt. E. D. Yutzy, of company 
C, being promoted to major. The Fifty-Fourth was now attached to the Fourth 
brigade, First division, Department of West Virginia, Col. Campbell in command 
of the brigade, and Lieut.-Col. Linton of the regiment. On the 6th of November 
another reorganization of the command took place, the Fifty-Fourth being 
assigned to the First brigade, Second division, Col. Campbell in command. On 
January 4, 1864, Col. Campbell, at his own request, was relieved of the command 
of the brigade, and assumed charge of his regiment. On May 15th the battle of 
New Market was fought, and Lieut.-Col. Linton was among the severely wounded.
     At Staunton the Fifty-Fourth was transferred to Crook's command, Third 
brigade, Second division, Col. Campbell taking command of the brigade and Maj. 
Yutzy of the regiment, owing to Lieut.-Col. Linton's wound, received at New 
Market. On the 14th of July the command moved to Martinsburg, and Lieut.-Col. 
Linton resumed command of the regiment. On July 18th, at Snicker's Gap, in a 
spirited engagement, Lieut.-Col. Linton was again wounded and entirely disabled, 
by having his shoulder-bone fractured, and on the 19th of September he received 
a third serious wound in a skirmish at Winchester by a grape-shot penetrating 
his arm. This confined him to the hospital until February 3, 1865, when his term 
of enlistment expired.
     The command, after arduous and almost constantly active service, moved to 
Washington and thence to City Point. In May, 1864, upon the Third and Fourth 
reserve regiments being mustered out of service, the veterans and recruits were 
organized into an independent battalion, and on February 7, 1865, the term of 
enlistment of the Fifty-Fourth having expired, the two organizations were 
consolidated as the Fifty-Fourth, and new officers were in command, the old ones 
having been mustered out at the expiration of their terms.  Thus it will be seen 
that Col. Linton's record of service in the army was highly honorable.  His 
bravery was attested in every battle in which he participated, and they were 
many and fierce.  He was once heard to remark that he was struck in every 
engagement in which he took part, but only three of his wounds were serious.
     After his recovery from his wound and his return from the army, Col. Linton 
resumed the practice of the law, and also resumed his interest in politics.  He 
was an effective stump speaker, and rendered the Democratic party valuable 
services in many a campaign.  In local affairs he served for several years as 
secretary of Johnstown borough council, and as a member of council.
     In 1866, when Gen. Jacob M. Campbell was elected surveyor-general of the 
State by a majority of 21,000, Col. Linton ran against him and had a majority in 
this county of 831.  In 1867 he was elected a member of the lower House of the 
State Legislature over Samuel Singleton, republican, of Ebensburg, by a vote of 
3,031 to 1,971.   In 1868 he ran against Hon. Daniel J. Morrell for Congress, 
but was defeated by a majority of 1,094.  At the preceding Congressional 
election Mr. Morrell had a majority of 1,219 over Hon. R. L. Johnston.  The 
district was then composed of the counties of Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, and 
Mifflin.
     Col. Linton also served his party in other capacities, as delegate to 
National and State conventions, candidate for Presidential elector, and in the 
fall of 1891 as candidate for president judge of the courts of Cambria county, 
for which office he was defeated by Hon. A. V. Barker, his failing health 
preventing him from entering actively into the campaign.
     Col. Linton was married in 1857.  His wife was a daughter of George S. and 
the late Mrs. King.  They were united in Johnstown by Rev. David Swope, pastor 
of the Lutheran church.  Mrs. Linton survives.  She bore the colonel eleven 
children.  Three daughters died in childhood.  The living are: Miss Phoebe, who 
is at home, George K., of Lewistown, Illinois; Reuben M., of Somerset; R. P., of 
Dubois; Ivan, at home; Selah L., at home, a student at Pennsylvania college, 
Gettysburg; Anna, at home, a student at Luthersville, Maryland; and Kate, at 
home.
     When they were first married Mr. and Mrs. Linton went to housekeeping on 
Singer street, Conemaugh borough.  Afterward they lived on Locust street.  In 
1882, they moved into a handsome brick residence, which they had built on Main 
street at the intersection of Union.  Here they lived at the time of the flood.  
On that eventful evening the colonel and Mrs. Linton and their three daughters 
were at home.  The descending deluge drove them to the roof of the house.  The 
building was partially wrecked, but the roof did not fall, and they afterward, 
assisted by Orlando Potts, made their way to the high-school building, where 
they spent the night.  As soon as possible the colonel built a house at Osborne, 
now the eighth ward, and there the family have ever since resided.
     In his family relations the colonel was very affectionate and kind.  He was 
also socially inclined among his fellow-men, and was associated with many 
orders, etc.  He was a charter member of Oriental Commandery, Knights Templar, 
and was prominently identified with Johnstown Lodge of Masons, Conemaugh Lodge 
of Odd Fellows, William F. Packer Encampment, Knights of the Mystic Chain, the 
Knights of Pythias, the Grand Army and the Union Veteran Legion. From 1882 to 
1884 he was Supreme Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the world, and in 
1885 he was Supreme Commander of the Knights of the Mystic Chain. He was vice-
president of the Citizens' National bank, a charter member of the Citizens' 
Cemetery association, and a member of the Board of Trustees.
     Showing the high character of Col. Linton fraternally, and as a citizen and 
a man, we give the following letters of condolence received by his family:

                                       CRESSON SPRINGS, August 31, 1892.
     (Telegram.)
Mrs. John P. Linton:
     The sad news of the death of Mr. Linton has just reached me. Accept my 
heartfelt sympathy.                    ROBERT E. PATTISON,
                                       Governor of State of Pennsylvania.

                                       CRESSON SPRINGS, August 31, 1892.
     (Telegram.)
Mrs. John P. Linton:
     We have received the news of your great loss with profound sorrow. You have 
the sympathy of all who knew Col. Linton. I will attend his funeral if possible.
                                       JAMES M. SWANK,
Secy. Iron & Steel Association of America.

                                       KANSAS CITY, MO., August 31, 1892
Mrs. John P. Linton:
     In the expression of the sympathy of the Supreme Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
for you in your great affliction, it is my sad privilege to advise you that the 
following resolutions were adopted at the opening of the morning session:
     WHEREAS, This Supreme Lodge has heard, with great sorrow, of the death of 
Past Supreme Chancellor John P. Linton, of Pennsylvania, at his home in 
Johnstown, and in order that a proper and fitting notice of this sad event, 
occurring, as it has, during a session of this Supreme Lodge, be made by this 
body, therefore be it
     Resolved, That in this dispensation of an All-wise Providence, we bow in 
humble submission, believing He doeth all things well.
     Resolved, That in his loss we recognize that a bright particular star has 
fallen from our Pythian firmament; an able expounder of the principles of our 
order has ceased his labors; a true and devoted brother, a loving and dear 
friend, and a cherished an enjoyable companion has, for the last time, met us in 
legislation, in deliberate and fraternal council, and that no more will the warm 
clasp of his hand be felt on our own or his genial words comfort and cherish us 
in the cause of Pythian friendship.
     Resolved, That to his family this Supreme Lodge extends profound and 
heartfelt sympathy in this hour of their great bereavement.
     A committee will represent this Supreme Lodge at the funeral, the day and 
hour of which please telegraph to me.
                                       GEORGE B. SHAW,
                                       Supreme Chancellor.

                                       CORRY, PA., September 1, 1892.
R. M. Linton, Johnstown, Pa.:
     Telegram received, and with profound regret learn of the death of our 
beloved friend and brother, Past Supreme Chancellor, John P. Linton: to you and 
his surviving family I tender, in the name of the Uniform Rank, Knights of 
Pythias of Pennsylvania, my deepest and most sincere sympathy for the 
irreparable loss which they have sustained in his death.
                                       Fraternally,
                                       CHARLES E. BENTLEY.
Commander Penna. Brigade, U. R., K. of P.

     The following is an editorial from the Johnstown Tribune:

                           DEATH OF COL. LINTON.

     The death of Col. John Park Linton takes away one of our best-known and 
most highly-esteemed citizens. Born and raised in Johnstown, and living here all 
the years of his life, except when serving his country on the field of battle, 
he was looked upon by our old citizens, when a boy, with admiration, when a 
young man with pride, and as a leading member of the bar, a soldier, and in 
every way a worthy citizen in his early and later middle life, with love, 
respect and veneration.  His life was an honor to Johnstown, and he was honored 
by her people as a man who loved his town and his country, and served them with 
the great ability.  His place will long remain vacant in the hearts of the 
people of the Conemaugh valley.