Tombstone Tuesday-William P. & Alma I. (Brown) Linn

William P & Alma I (Brown) Linn, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio (2024 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of William P. and Alma I. (Brown) Linn, located in Ward 22, row 7, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

LINN
William P.
Feb. 19, 1908
June 4, 1993
Alma I.
(Brown)
April 5, 1913
Sep 18, 2004

Their tombstone is also engraved with the name surname Gardner, their daughter Norma Jean and her husband Robert L.

William Petter Linn was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 19 February 1908, the son of Henry (1871-1934) and Margaret (Deitsch) (1877-1964) Linn. [1] William’s middle name is spelled Petter on both his county birth record and his Draft Registration card.

In 1910 William Linn, age 2 years, was enumerated with his parents and siblings in Liberty Township, Mercer County. His siblings in 1910 were [Carl] John, 13; Edward, 11; Andy, 9; Valentine, 7; Urban, 6; Paul, 6; and [Eda] Caroline, 1 month. [2]

In 1930, William and three of his siblings, Valentine, Urban, and Hilda, still lived at home with their parents.

William Linn married Alma Brown on 3 March 1934 in Mercer County, married by Rev. Alfred J.A. Wahl. According to their marriage record, William was a farmer and Alma was a housekeeper. [3]

Alma Irene Brown was born in Butler Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 5 April 1913, the daughter of Rie (1886-1933) and Ethel (Snider) (1896-1989) Brown. [3] 

The Rie Brown family in 1920: Rie, 34; Ethel, 24; and Alma, 6. Rie Brown was a farmer. [4] By 1930 the Rie Brown family had grown to included four children: Alma J, 17; Wanda M, 8; Donald N, 6; and Paul, 2. [5]

William and Irene married in 1934 and by 1940 they had one child, Norma Jean, age 5. [6]

In 1950 William, Alma, and their daughter Norma Jean resided in rural Washington Township, on the Washington-Butler Township line. William’s occupation was production line worker in the farm machinery industry, which was likely at New Idea. [7]

William Linn died in the Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, Ohio, on 4 June 1993, aged 85.

His widow Alma Irene (Brown) Linn died at the Celina Manor Nursing Home on 18 September 2004, aged 91. She was survived by her daughter, Norma Jean (Robert) Gardner, Celina; two brothers, Don Brown of New Knoxville and Paul Brown of Celina; a sister, Wanda Shively, St. Marys; six grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” Mercer, Liberty Births, William Petter Linn, 19 Feb 1908; FamilySearch.org.  

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 119, p.9A, dwelling 156, family 157, Henry Linn; Ancestry.com.

[3] Mercer County Marriages [Ohio], 1920-1947, p.160, William Linn & Alma Irene Brown, 3 Mar 1934; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Butler, Ed 125, p.11B, dwelling 222, family 225, Rie Brown; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Washington, ED 27, p.4A, dwelling 75, family 75, Ria Brown [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Washington, ED 54-30, p.3A, household 45, William Linn; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Washington, ED 54-43, p.18, line 27, William P Linn; Ancestry.com.

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