My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Prof. William H. Lynch, principal of Mountain Grove Academy, Mountain Grove, Wright Co., Mo., was born in Texas County, Mo., in 1839. He is the son of David and Pollie Ann (Fourt) Lynch. David Lynch was a good old native of Kentucky, born in 1803, and immigrated to Missouri in pioneer days. He located in what is now Texas County many years before that county was formed, and followed milling on Piney River, which business he operated until the time of his death. In his early years he taught school, and in his later years was a patron of education. He was a member of the county court in Texas County, and the first circuit court ever held in the county was held at his house. Mrs. David Lynch was a native of Missouri, and became the mother of seven children, Prof. William H. Lynch being second in order of birth. Mrs. David Lynch died at the age of thirty-eight, and when the subject of this sketch was a child. The paternal grandfather was also a native of Kentucky, and immigrated to Missouri. When Prof. William Lynch was seventeen years of age he was sent by his father to Boone County, Mo., where he attended the public schools, and afterward Lathrop Academy. He then returned to his home, and taught school in his native county for some time. He was then appointed county clerk of Texas County, and served in that capacity until August 10, 1862, when he resigned the clerkship and joined the Federal army, Thirty-second Missouri Volunteers. He entered as a private, but his energy and education soon gained recognition, and at St. Louis, Mo., he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. At Arkansas Post he was promoted to first sergeant, then commissary-sergeant, then in Georgia, he was promoted to lieutenant, and afterward was promoted to regimental quartermaster. In 1865 he was promoted to the rank of captain, and was discharged with that title. Years of rough experience, in which he had distinguished himself, had taught him the value of education, and so eager was he to further pursue his collegiate course that he returned at once to the State University at Columbia, and there attended school another year. He then returned to his favorite pursuit, teaching. He officiated as principal at Steelville Academy four years; St. James Seminary, Phelps County, one and a half years; Salem, Dent County, twelve years; West Plains, Howell County, three years, and in 1887 he was elected principal of Mountain Grove Academy, at a salary of $175 per month, which position he is still occupying. Prof. Lynch’s life as an educator has been one continual round of success, until he now stands in the front rank of a few leading educators of Missouri. C. I. Filley, of St. Louis, Mo., visited Mountain Grove, and pronounced Prof. Lynch second to no educator in the State. Hon. R. P. Bland also stated in public here that he had known Prof. Lynch for many years, and that “he is the best organizer of schools in the State.” The author of this sketch, as a Normalite, can bear witness that Prof. Lynch’s methods of teaching are in harmony with the methods adopted in the leading teachers’ training schools of the country. In twenty-five years of work as an educator Prof. Lynch has lost only one and a half days’ time. Commissioner of Education at Washington says that “this is the most faithful time on record.” Prof. Lynch was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary Cook, a native of Tennessee, born in 1848, and the result of this happy union was the birth of two children, one only, Florence, now living. Prof. Lynch is a member of the Presbyterian Church, affiliates with the Republican party, is a Master Mason and a Royal Arch Mason.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 90 biographies included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Wright County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Wright County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.