Finding My Dead

Claude Benjamin Lynn, one of eleven children born to George Washington Lynn and Harriet Fry, was born October 16, 1893 in Tamaqua, PA.  On June 30, 1894, Harriet sponsored her son’s baptism at ZionEvangelicalLutheranChurch in Tamaqua.

By 1900, George Lynn’s career as a Railroad Engineer had taken the family to CoalTownship in Northumberland County, PA.  We can see in the 1900 Federal Census that Claude was attending school but at the age of 6 was not yet able to read or write.

Like so many others before him, Claude left school before 1910 and had taken to the work force to help support his family as well as save enough so he would one day be able to have his own home and family.  The 1910 census only shows that he was a laborer working odd jobs; I cannot help but wonder if he was following the family professional on the railroad or was he doing some other type of odd job.  Five years later Claude appears as a laborer in the Shamokin city directory; he is still living at home with his parents.

On June 3, 1917 Claude completed his World War I Draft Registration.  Looking at this document, you’ll notice that he listed his year of birth as 1892 instead of 1893 as listed on his baptism record; you’ll also see that he listed his place of birth as Shamokin, PA which, again, is different than recorded at his baptism.  The most interesting piece of information gathered from his registration is that he has noted that he is physically disabled and refers the Draft Board to his physician Dr. A. S. Jones of Shamokin.  What physical disability did Claude have, how sever was it, and how long had it affected his life?

Claude Lynn died on August 18, 1917 at the age of 23; cause of death is listed as Pulmonary Hemorrhage due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis.  Was this the physical disability Claude previously mentioned?  Claude was buried in this family’s lot on the 21st of August.

The August 21, 1917 edition of the Mount Carmel Item includes the following article:

Hemmorrhage Caused Death

Seized with hemorrhages at Independence and Orange streets, Shamokin, Claude Lynn, Shamokin.  Reading railroad engineer, died less than a half hour later.

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