BIOGRAPHY: Lieut. John LYNCH, 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. 83-4
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LIEUT. JOHN LYNCH, who was a brave soldier, and is now serving his fifth term as 
justice of the peace at Cresson, this county, is a son of Owen and Rose 
(McCullough) Lynch, and was born at Fredericksburg, Virginia, May 7, 1839. His 
father, Owen Lynch, was born in county Cavan, Ireland. In 1812 he left the land 
of the shamrock, with its crowded economic conditions, and crossed the Atlantic, 
seeking the greater freedom of the United States. He first located in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where, for several years, he worked in a sugar 
refinery. He then accepted employment as a boss miner, and in this capacity 
worked in the Black Rock and Potomac tunnels. In 1844 he removed to Blair 
county, Pennsylvania, where he located on a farm, and for four years engaged in 
agriculture. At the close of this period, in 1848, he removed to Washington 
township, this county, where he resided until the time of his death, in 1859.
     Rose (McCullough) Lynch, mother, was a native of county Derry, Ireland. She 
was a devout Catholic, and died at Cresson in 1889, at the advanced age of 
seventy-two years.
     John Lynch's education was limited to the common schools of Washington 
township, and on leaving school he was employed as a lumberman until the 
beginning of the memorable conflict of 1861-65, when, true to his patriotic 
instincts, he enlisted, April 15, 1861, in company G, Tenth Pennsylvania 
volunteers, for three months, and re-enlisted August 1, 1861, as a second 
sergeant in company A, Fifty-fifth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, for three 
years, or during the war. November, 1861, he was promoted to quartermaster 
sergeant, and on August 28, 1862, was made second lieutenant in the above 
company. He was wounded in the battle of Drury's Bluff, Virginia, May 16, 1864, 
and in acknowledgment of his gallantry on the field, was promoted to the office 
of first lieutenant, February 24, 1865. He served until the close of the war. 
October 20, 1865, he received his discharge in Maysville, Buckingham county, 
Virginia. On leaving the army he returned to Cresson, where, in 1867, he engaged 
in lumbering, which business he conducted until 1873, and followed draying in 
Cresson until 1877, at which time he was compelled to retire from active 
business on account of the wound received while valiantly fighting the battles 
of his country and gallantly defending the honor of the flag.
     In religious belief he adheres to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic 
church. Politically he is a democrat, and has always taken an intelligent 
interest in politics. As a friend of the cause of education, and a supporter of 
our public school system, he has served as school director for fifteen years, 
was supervisor of his township two years, a member of borough council of 
Summitville for three years, and is serving his fifth commission of five years 
each as justice of the peace. His long term of office testifies to his integrity 
and excellent judgment, and his standing with the people who know him best.
     In 1867 he wedded Miss Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Hines, of 
Cresson, and to this marital relation eight children have been born: James A., 
Joseph Francis, Mary E., Celestine, Hacket, Agnes, Katie and Harry.