S. B. LINN is one of the well-known and honored citizens of Shelby Township. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1836, and is a son of James and Nancy (Booher) Linn, natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Irish and the mother of German descent. The parents reared six sons and one daughter--S. B. was the sixth child. He was reared on a farm, and received his education in the public-schools. During the great rebellion he enlisted at Lincoln's call for 300,000 men, in the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company A. He served until the close of the war and was discharged at Lexington, North Carolina. He took an active part in all the engagements under General Kilpatrick, from Atlanta to the sea. He was discharged, and returned to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, where he was married to Miss Jane Keagy, who was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Shoff) Keagy. Mr. Linn lived in Pennsylvania until 1878, when he came to Shelby County and settled on an eighty-acre tract of land. He now has a fine farm, a good story and a half house, a barn and windmill. Everything shows the energy and prosperity of the Proprietor. He now owns 177 acres of fine land. Mr. Linn and wife have four children--Luella V., Mary K., Lizzie N., and Samuel H. They have given their children the advantage of a good education. Their daughters are all successful teachers; two of them are now attending college at Indianola, Iowa. Mr. Linn is a Republican. He has served as township trustee and on the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served as trustee of the same. Mrs. Linn and daughters are also members of the church. Mr. Linn is a member of the G. A. R., Dick Yates Post, No. 364. He has always been a liberal supporter of all religious and educational advancement. He is one of Shelby County's most valuable and highly esteemed citizens. James Linn, father of S. B., went as a volunteer in the war of 1812. When he left home his father traveled for two days with him; when he left him he said: "My son, be true to your country, and never return with the name of being a coward!" He was honorably discharged in December, 1814, and was married to Nancy Booker [Booher], January 31, 1815. Four of their sons answered their country's call for men to defend her flag.
[Text from "Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa," 1889, p. 382-383]
[Corrections to the original text that I know about are shown in red]