The James Linn Family
James Linn was the son of Nina and Lawrence Linn. He grew up
in the Woolrich church. They were the first occupants of the company
owned house-currently 1012 Park Avenue, Woolrich. James (Jim) worked at
the Woolrich Woolen Mill-part-time as a teenager, then as a young
adult. He met a young lady at work, Rita Smith from McElhattan. They
began dating in 1948 and were married in 1949. They had one child,
Sharon born in 1949. They attended church regularly and Sharon was
baptized there, as was her father before her. Rita taught the preschool
Sunday school children’s class. They resided in a half of a double
house on Park Avenue, which was owned by Woolrich Inc. In 1956, Jim
left Woolrich Inc. to work at Avco (currently Textron.), then Piper
Aircraft. Because they had been living in a company-owned house, it was
necessary for them to move. They bought a house in Avis, PA and
transferred membership to the Avis Methodist Church, currently Avis
United Methodist Church. James died in 2009, and Rita Smith Linn died
in 2008. Sharon Linn Wagner still resides in Avis and is married to
William Wagner Sr. They have a son, William Wagner Jr.
The Gore Sisters
Woolrich Woolen Mills had been recruiting workers by going to
other communities and talking to members of large families. They
approached the family of Arthur Durell Gore in Sinnemahoning. 3 of his
daughters, Lillian, Hazel and Nina decided to take him up on the offer.
Nina didn’t really want to go, but Lillian talked her into going with
her. They took a train to Woolrich and resided in a boarding house next
to the current parsonage on Cemetery St.
Hazel went back home soon afterward. Nina had been dating a boy who had
left Sinnemahoning to work in Ohio. She forgot about him in a hurry
when she saw the boy who lived in the house 2 doors away, Lawrence
Linn. Lawrence Linn was dating another girl at the time. He forgot
about the other girl when he met Nina, and he and Nina eloped in 1924.
Lawrence died in 1986 and Nina died in 1997 and Nina was active in the
church. Lawrence received a gift of a book for perfect Sunday School
attendance in 1921. They had one child James Linn and a granddaughter,
Sharon Linn Wagner.
Lillian Gore met and married Charles Englert. In the early 1930’s they
adopted Lillian’s niece, Helen (Pooch) Snyder. They lived 2 doors away
from the church, on Park Avenue, Woolrich. They were active in the
church. After her marriage, Helen Englert moved to Canada with
her husband James Skiles. Later, Helen lived in Florida. They had two
Sons, Chucky and Wally. Charles Englert died very suddenly from a heart
attack in 1956. Lillian died in 1985, having moved to Florida to be
near her daughter sometime around 1980.
Chatham and Agnes Linn’s daughter Phyllis married Charles Biser and
continued to be active in the church. They had 2 sons Daryl and Larry.
Daryl and Larry grew up in the Woolrich church, Phyllis was active
there. I don’t remember a lot of details about them. Leah Oberheim’s
mother, Bertha was a daughter of Chatham and Agnes Linn, Phyllis’
sister.
