During the lengthy research on my Linton family – 50 years at this point – I have found more information on the extended family than any of my other ancestors. Within that time period I have met and collaborated with numerous Linton descendants, distant cousins that are very near and dear to me. Today I share old newspaper clippings, most likely from The News-Democrat, the local newspaper in Russellville, the county seat of Logan County – where John and Adelaide were born and lived their lives. But first, a little background information.

John Wesley Linton, born November 14, 1843, the son of Benjamin Burkett Linton and Nancy Jane Newman. Benjamin was the son of Benjamin Franklin Linton and Lucy Crewdson, and the grandson of Captain John Hancock Linton and Ann Nancy Mason.

When the Civil War began, John Wesley fought for the south, mustering in with Company B, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, Benjamin Hardin Helm’s Regiment, later called the Orphan Brigade. John was captured January 3, 1863, in Muhlenberg County and taken to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was imprisoned until March 27, 1863. It is said that he walked home to Logan County from the prison camp, about 350 miles. Having much time for thought, he grieved for his comrades who would never come back to their homes. Later in life John Wesley Linton planted cedar trees for each fallen Confederate in his brigade. Many of those trees still stand today – tall, old cedars that line both sides of the front of the property and follow the gravel drive to the house.

Five years after the war John Wesley married Emma Adelaide Procter, the daughter of Benjamin Ellis Procter and Martha Dixon James. Emma was born about 1850. The couple married November 11, 1869. The couple had five children –

1. Benjamin Procter Linton born March 8, 1872, died January 14, 1941, married Florence Vitula Lucy Ragland.
2. John Warder Linton, born June 20, 1875, died November 27, 1945, married Eugenia Bell Howard.
3. James Thomas Linton, born November 30, 1877, died November 13, 1945, married Allie Mae Beauchamp.
4. Lucy N. Linton, born December 21, 1880, died March 15, 1903.
5. Hugh Walter Linton, born February 22, 1883, died March 21, 1945, married Eliza Belfield Garnett.

John and Emma celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1919. Thankfully someone saved the following newspaper notice – there are no online resources for The News-Democrat of Russellville for 1919.

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Linton celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Only the immediate family and Rev. and Mrs. Shep Campbell were present. The beauty of the day was accentuated by the beauty and charm of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Linton who, having passed the fiftieth mile-stone of martial contentment, enjoy unusual health and happiness. Here’s wishing for them, as they journey down the western slope of life, a continuation of happy days, such as have ever marked their pathways, having enjoyed the love, affection and respect of all who have known them.

John and Emma would enjoy almost another decade together.

Linton Attends Davis Shaft Dedication

1925-1926

One of the six surviving Confederate veterans who attended the Dedication of the Fairview Monument was J. W. Linton, of Logan County, Kentucky, who enlisted when a mere boy and served throughout the four years of the War, in Forrest’s Cavalry.

Mr. Linton is eighty-two years of age and has for many years, been a prominent farmer in Logan County, and is the father of Hugh W. Linton, a leading attorney of the Hopkinsville bar, also the Honorable J. Warden Linton, a leading attorney of Russellville, Kentucky, and James T. Logan, County Judge of Logan County, and other sons who are prominent farmers and leading citizens of Logan County.

Emma Adelaide Proctor Linton died May 3, 1928.

Beloved Woman Is Called Home

Mrs. John W. Linton Died Thursday After An Illness of One Year

May 10, 1928

While the evening shadows lengthen and the sunset glow was fading, softening the out-of-door world, all that was mortal of Mrs. John W. Linton slipped its earthly mooring and was wafted away, at her home at Corinth, after a year’s illness.

Born in this county seventy-eight years ago, named Emma Adelaide Procter, married to John W. Linton, of this county, when nineteen years of age, she is survived by her husband and by four sons, Procter, J. Warder, James T., and Hugh, W., the latter of Hopkinsville, and a daughter, Lucy, died in early womanhood, in Auburn, after an attack of fever. Her sisters, Mrs. Thomas Linton, Mrs. J. W. Stowers, a half-sister, Mrs. Will Lee, a brother, Henry Procter, and a half-brother, Will Bell, preceded her to the grave many years ago. Besides her aged husband and four sons, she leaves to mourn her loss thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

No woman endeared herself to her entire family connection more closely, for she was faithful to home ties, to family and friends alike. Her example of fidelity to her community, of devotion to the Methodist Church, her dignity of bearing and of purpose is to be emulated , for she was ever kind, gentle, responsive to an appeal for charity in thought and in deed. She was ready to condone and overlook human faults and frailties, and to spread the mantle of forgiveness in the Christian way.

The poor about her had cause to say that they felt they had lost one of their best friends, and expressed themselves accordingly. she was outstanding in sincerity, and a calm benediction comes to those who weep in the feeling and strong belief that she is now where suffering and human disability are no more, ‘safe on the gladsome, shining shore.’

Her grave, laden with bright flowers, the obsequies attended by many who knew her but to cherish her memory, hundreds of whom will look upon that

spot as more or less a shrine, around which tender, loving memories will entwine themselves, and we shall see again the beautiful face, hear again that gentle, lovely voice and remember the shining deeds of her helping hand.

A benediction comes from her well-lived life, the well-earned reward we feel sure shall be hers, for as a wife, mother and neighbor, she hath earned her crown. Bright shall be the Resurrection Morn when such spirit will rise again, to sing hosanna, to rejoice in the rewards prepared for the faithful. during her invalidism, when in much suffering she leaned upon loved ones, her oldest son, B. Procter, showed perfect filial devotion and so tenderly rendered beautiful service that we deem him worthy of warmest public mention.

John Wesley Linton died July 4, 1930.

Aged Veteran Is Called To Beyond

Mr. John Wesley Linton Died Last Friday; Funeral Saturday Afternoon

News of the death of Mr. John Wesley Linton at the home of his brother, B. F. Linton, last Friday, was the occasion of much sadness in the city and county. Mr. Linton had been in failing health for some months, and a few days before his death he suffered a fall, which doubtless hastened the end.

The deceased was born in Muhlenberg County in November, 1843, grew to young manhood, entered the Civil War, served bravely for several years. After the war he removed to Logan County, and in 1869 was united in marriage to Miss Emma Adelaide Procter, a beautiful young woman, who was born and reared near Auburn. They resided near that place for some years before moving to a fertile farm near Corinth. Mrs. Linton passed away in May, 1928, after a short illness, and the aged husband slowly and gradually declined in health. For some time he had resided at the home of his son, Judge J. T. Linton, in this city.

Funeral services were held at Pleasant Run church on Saturday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Buckner, assisted by the Rev. Walter I. Munday, of this city, and the Rev. G. W. Hummell, presiding elder, of Bowling Green. In memory of war service, of the many Confederate reunions he had attended throughout the South, of the Lost Cause, he was laid away in his uniform of gray, and the floral covering covering of his casket was partly a flag in three colors, colors which to him meant so much of bravery, of loyalty, of willingness to obey the command.

He was a life-long member of the Methodist church, and exemplified his Christian faith through his charity, sympathy, loyalty toward family and friends, patience, resignation and great human understanding. He endeared himself to many by his broad intelligence, his native humor, his simplicity, his fairness and rugged honesty, his adherence to principle, his abiding interest in his friends and his Christian faith. As husband, father, home-maker, counsellor and friend, he was outstanding, and in his passing the county has lost one of its finest men.

He is survived by four sons, Judge J. T. Linton and J. Warder Linton, of Russellville; B. Procter Linton, of Corinth, and Hugh W. Linton, of Hopkinsville. One brother, Ben Linton, of the county, and three sisters, Mesdames Lilly Creits, Addie Richardson and Rosa Lett, survive. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

I feel honored and humbled at the amount of information people have not only shared with me throughout the years, but everything that has been handed into my keeping for future generations. I cherish every item.