Chasing Our Tales, January 2004, Lynch Family Revisited

The following is the obituary for J. A. Lynch from the Daily Index, dated Monday, June 21, 1920. Accompanying the obit was the photo of James A. Lynch on a mule holding a jug of water. This was provided by Darienne Hall, 836 Blue Jay Lane, Coppell, TX 75019-5981; dariennehall@verizon.net . Darienne is a historian for the Lynch family.

"DEATH AND BURIAL OF JAMES ALVIS LYNCH

"At 5 o'clock this afternoon, at the Central Christian Church, was held the funeral service of James Alvis Lynch, aged 93 years, and the funeral was followed by the burial service at Elmwood cemetery. Both services were conducted by the Rev. R. A. Highsmith, former pastor of the church here.

"Mr. Lynch died at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, at his home, seven miles south of town. So passed away one who might be called the founder of Mineral Wells, and one who bored a well here which was the first of the wells through its mineral and health giving properties gave to this place the name of Mineral Wells.

"James Alvis Lynch was born on April 28th, 1827 in Lexington, Mo. In 1849 he was married to Miss Armenia Swenny [sic] in the state of Arkansas, and in '61 he moved with his family to Texas, which was then a wild, new country. Through the period of the civil war he served the South and his adopted state in the Confederate Army.

"It was in 1877 that he came to this part of the country traveling along the Brazos Valley, beautiful then as now, but then it was in a primitive state. He acquired a piece of property in Palo Pinto county, which was afterwards known as the Lynch ranch and a part of that ranch afterward became the town site of the present city of Mineral Wells. In 1880 he bored a well which proved to have wonderful curative powers and so soon did the fame of its waters spread abroad that in 1881 the town site of Mineral Wells was laid out, for more and more travelers came to drink of the waters and so many of them chose to settle near by, convenient to the waters, that a town site became a necessity. It was Mr. Lynch who made the original plat of Mineral Wells. This is now called the Lynch Addition, but that manner of calling is one of the misnomers which sometimes occur, for his was the original plat. He also selected the site of and first laid out the cemetery, now Elmwood, the grounds which is to be his earthly resting place. He was a devout Christian and a member of the Christain Church. He helped to haul from Weatherford the lumber to build the first building for the Christain Church here. This was in the days before the coming of the railroad.

"To Mr. and Mrs. Lynch were borne eleven children, six boys and five girls. His wife preceded him into the land beyond by some years, and he is survived by only six of his children, five sons and one daughter. These are C. C. Lynch of Grapevine, Texas; Mrs. Mary Stephenson of Weatherford, J. W. Lynch of Mineral Wells, J. M. Lynch of Paducah, Texas, and Sam and M. M. Lynch, who live seven miles south of town. He leaves also some 23 grand children and great great grandchildren. His was a long useful and active life. He had the hardihood of the pioneer and of the soldier and the perseverance and stability of the good citizen who builds up and stays with his town through prosperity and reverses. His memory is a precious heritage to his posterity and to the people of Mineral Wells."

This is quite a different story from the one in which we noted that Judge Lynch was born in Virginia and didn't leave until after the Civil War. This account appears to contradict that, and in fact, implies that Judge Lynch never visited Virginia.

The following shows Darienne's genealogy of J. A. Lynch:

"James Alvis Lynch, born 27 April 1827 in Lexinnton, MO; died 17 June 1920 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Co., TX. He was the son of. Isaiah Lynch and Jane Turner. He married Mariah Jane Rogers on 02 August 1849 in Washington Co., AR. She was born 1831 in TN and died ca1852 - 1854 in AR. She was the daughter of William Rodgers and Jane Robinson. He married Arminda Swinney on 03 August 1854 in AR or MO. She was born 14 May 1835 in GA and died 21 April 1921 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Co., TX."

This presents us with a totally different story of James Alvis Lynch....different parents, different location of birth, and different, and more complete, documentation than I had found in my earlier piece on the Lynch family.

I do remember that about a year and a half ago Bob Bellamy told me of two separate Lynch family stories that he had heard., and this appears to be the second story.

So, moving back a generation, we now look at Darienne's genealogy of Isaiah and Jane Turner Lynch:

"Isaiah Lynch was born ca 1795 - 1801 in NC or SC and died after 1860. He was the son of Solomon Lynch and Sarah Arnold. He was married to Jane Turner on10 August 1826 in Lexington, Lafayette Co., MO, by Abel Owen.

"Jane Turner was born 01 January 1806 in TN. She was the daughter of George Edward Turner and Mary Rupe."

"Solomon Lynch married Sarah Arnold. She was the daughter of John Arnold and Cherokee "sounds like" Lekuteche".

"Notes for Solomon Lynch: Although there is much circumstantial evidence supporting Solomon Lynch as the father of our Isaiah Lynch, there is no hard and fast proof at this time. Jim Lynch of Anchorage, Alaska, lynchjl@yahoo.com, has most heavily researched the early generations of the Lynch family history, and we are indebted to his endeavors."

Now we have a different genealogy for Judge James Alvis Lynch. Which one is correct? If there is a Lynch descendant reading this column who has substantial proof, one way or the other, I would appreciate hearing from you. Each of the Lynch descendants listed above would be more than happy to be in contact with other family members, also.

Well, until next time, I look forward to those cards, letters, and emails which keep this column interesting and exciting. My address is Sue Seibert, P. O. Box 61, Mineral Wells TX 76068-0061, siouxcitysue@cox-internet.com.