LINNEWS - May 1999

The Linn family hails from Northern Ireland and this article is the first in a serious about Irish history.

According to local legend, various tribes first inhabited Ireland, the most important being the Nemedians, Fomorians, Firbolgs, and Tuatha Dé Danann. These tribes are said to have been eventually subdued by Milesians (Scots). Although various classical writers mention Ireland under the name of Ierne in a Greek poem of the 5th century BC and by the names of Hibernia and Juverna, little is known with certainty of its inhabitants before the 4th century AD. At that time Irish tribes, called the Scoti, harried the Roman province of Britain. These expeditions were continued and extended to the coast of Gaul until the time of the Loigare, or King MacNeill (reigned 428-63), during whose reign St. Patrick attempted to convert the natives. Although Christianity had been previously introduced in some parts of Ireland, Patrick encountered great obstacles, and the new faith was not fully established in the island until a century after his death (circa 461).

From early times, each province of Ireland appears to have had its own king; according to legend, these kings were subject to the ardri, or monarch, to whom the central district, called Meath, was allotted, and who usually resided at Tara, a hill in present-day county Meath. A chief selected from its most important family governed each clan. Professional jurists called brehons, who were endowed with lands and who were allowed important privileges, dispensed the laws.

In the 6th century, extensive monasteries were founded in Ireland, in which religion and learning were zealously cultivated during the early Middle Ages of Europe. From these establishments numerous missionaries went forth during the succeeding centuries, while many students of distinction from England and the Continent visited Ireland to further their education. The progress of Irish civilization was checked by the incursions of the Scandinavians, which began toward the close of the 8th century and continued for more than two centuries. The Vikings established settlements on the east coast of Ireland and conducted raids in the interior until their signal overthrow at the Battle of Clontarf, near Dublin, in 1014, by the Irish king Brian Boru(1). The next article will cover The Anglo-Norman Period. Contents

Of course there was sustinance remaining after the sale of that typically found at a picnic and certainly some had to be consumed to replace energy expended during the sale. Following the rejuvination, a tour of area some sites in the area related to the family’s history was given. The primary points of interest were four cemeteries and the orginial Linn farm once owned by Andrew Linn, Sr. and now owned in part by Harry Glossner, Sr. All in all, it was a day filled with enjoyment and one causing anticipation of the next reunion. Contents

In this issue, we highlight Sharon Elizabeth Linn Glossner. Sharon was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and has been a citizen of the central area of the state ever since. The mother of four children, she is married to Harry Glossner, Jr. and has been so for 32 years. By profession she provides in home health care but that doesn’t begin to answer the question of who is Sharon Glossner. She is a woman of faith who sings in the church choir and has been a member of Curtin Methodist Church since 1976. In fact, recently she had her picture taken down at the courthouse (no, not a mug shot) while celebrating with some friends, the National Day of Prayer. Her hobbies include crafts such as crochet and floral design as well as gardening. In what might be a contrast to the above in any other human being, Sharon very much enjoys Winston Cup stock car racing and is a big fan of the number 5 car driven by Terry Labonte. Sharon confesses that her desire to cheer for Labonte is directly related to the paint scheme on his car, which features a chicken (of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes fame). In addition to all of this, it is Sharon who has been key in organizing the Linn Family reunions! Contents

A caution flag was issued to Eldon R. Linn of Arlington, Virginia on February 19, 1999. He had not been feeling up to par and noted this to the doctor during an annual physical. Upon an extensive EKG it was concluded that he should enter the hospital. Eldon didn't have the best night as chest pain continued, even with some medication; therefore, the doctors moved up tests and determined that he required immediate surgery: a quintuple bypass as it turned out. The day following the surgery, a cardiologist came by and told him that everything was looking exactly as it should. After a few days of recovery, much haggling over details like prescriptions and such, and after a great hamburger for lunch, Eldon Linn arrived home on February 25, 1999. Within 8 weeks he was nearly fully recovered.

The checkered flag fell last May for Jeanne Linn. This would have been reported in the last issue, but unfortunately at press time, we were unaware of Jeanne’s passing. She was indeed a friend, cousin-in-law, and mentor. Brian Linn recalls: "I first met her by telephone in the context of a genealogy ‘cold call.’ On that day we began a relationship as genealogy pals, which grew into friendship. As a cousin, I had a special reason to visit Jeanne and her husband Charles when I was in California in 1994. She said ‘sure, we’d love to have you visit’ even with the house already hosting her son and three grandchildren! I was welcomed into their home as if I was a close family member, not a third cousin, twice removed! The warm hospitality will never be forgotten. Also remembered will be the things she taught me and the sound advice she gave me." Her husband, two children and four grandchildren and each of we who has benefited from her genealogy work survive Jeanne. She is missed.  Contents

New Web Site Launched

Brian Linn’s web site went on-line in early 1999 and links directly to The Descendants of Andrew Linn, Sr., current working edition. You may find the web site at this address: http://members.aol.com/Indy4Foyt. Contents

Come all to the third annual Linn Family Reunion to be held on Saturday, July 24, 1999. You can find us at pavilion #2 in the Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, Pennsylvania. The fun will begin at about 12:00 noon. Contents

The first immigrants to the territory now constituting the United States were only from Western Europe. The first great influx began in 19^th century when large numbers of Europeans left their homelands to escape the economic distress resulting from the transformation of industry by the factory system and the concurrent shift from small-scale to large scale farming. At the same time, wars, political oppression, and religious persecution caused many Europeans to seek freedom in the United States.

The century following 1820 may be divided into three great periods of immigration to the U.S. During the first period, from 1820 to 1860, most of the immigrants came from Great Britain, Ireland, and western Germany. In the second period, from1860 to 1890, those countries continued to supply a majority of the immigrants; the Scandinavian nations provided substantial minority. Thereafter the proportion of immigrants from northern and Western Europe declined rapidly. In the final period, from 1890 to1910, less than one-third of the immigrants came from these regions. The majority of the immigrants were natives of southern and Eastern Europe, with nationals of Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Russia constituting more than half of the total. Until World War I, immigration had generally increased in volume annually. From 1905 to 1914, an average of more than a million aliens entered the U.S. every year. With the outbreak of war, the volume declined sharply, and the annual average from 1915 to1918 was a little more than 250,000. In 1921 the number again rose; 800,000 immigrants were admitted. Thereafter the number fell in response to new conditions in Europe and to the limitations established by the U.S. law. Contents

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Sitting on the side of the highway to catch speeding drivers, a state police officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, "This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!" So, he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.

Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies: two in the front seat and three in the back all wide-eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, "Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?"

"Ma’am," the officer replies, "you weren’t speeding but you should know that driving below the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers." "Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit, twenty-two miles an hour!" the old woman says a bit proudly.

The state police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that "22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error.

"But, before I let you go Ma’am, I have to ask: is everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time," the officer asks. "Oh, they’ll be all right in a little while officer, We just got off route 119." Contents