Dr. John
Lynch: 1935 Stronghurst
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dr. John
Lynch: 1935 Stronghurst
Graduate: formerly of Raritan
This is the tenth in a series about doctors in the medical field who graduated in The Quill area schools.
It is about John Lynch, son of Lawrence and Ethel Lynch rural Raritan.
John Lynch MD
Dr. John Lynch was born on July 30, 1917, son of Lawrence and Ethel Lynch and spent his early years on the family farm 1-1/2 miles north of Raritan.
His grandparents purchased the house and his parents moved into it in 1916.
Their beautiful brick home had been built in 1921 to replace a two-story beauty of wood which a fire destroyed in January of 1920.
The original home was owned by the King family who around 1870, built the historic barn that is still there. Inscribed across it is "10,000 Welcomes" written in Gaelic (Irish language).
John said there were many similar homes from that era, typically two or three story large square homes with lots of rooms and a widow's walk or cupalo on top such as the Fort's, the Evans', Neff's, and the Sanderson's.
The Lynch home is located at the turn-off to St. Pat's Catholic Church and Community Center.
He wasn't far from the Barry country school which he attended 1st thru 8th for his primary education.
In the summers, he worked on the farm spending much time cultivating corn.
In respect to his small county up-bringing, he says the following things come to mind.
"Hot humid summers in tall corn fields sitting on a corn cultivator.
"Riding in a horse and buggy to church and town, during the winter months; we used a model T- Ford for travel during the summer months.
"Driving to high school daily for four years in good and bad weather, usually on bad roads.
"Having no electricity in our home till I was ten years old."
John's high school education was at Stronghurst High School graduating in 1935.
He went out for track and played a little football at Stronghurst High, but says:
"I was never a good athlete. I adopted Medicine as a profession because I had a scientific bent and did not aspire to be a farmer."
From SHS, he went to the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana for premedical training ; from there to the U of I medical school in Chicago.
During that period he married Eleanor Dixson in 1940. She was from the SHS class of 1934, daughter of Joseph and Grettie Dixson of Stronghurst, and also graduated from the University of Illinois doing her Internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.
John graduated from medical school and spent one year in an internship at Milwaukee County Hospital. At the end of the internship he enlisted in the US Army and was on the staff of the 39th Field Hospital.
Eleanor went to live with her parents in Stronghurst where her dad was Postmaster for 25 years plus he farmed outside the south edge of Stronghurst.
Her grandfather the 1st Joseph Dixson, was a founding father of Stronghurst. He had a large farm and cattle operation and persuaded the Santa Fe railroad in 1886, to go through Stronghurst so it could haul his cattle around. He gave land to the school and churches and sold lots for the rest, Eleanor said.
Sadly, her grandfather was killed by the train he had brought to town.
While Eleanor remained with her parents, John was sent to the European Theater of Operations as part of the 9th Air Force in February 1944, and with his hospital was in the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
After the invasion the hospital continued in support of the air force through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. At the end of the European operation he was honorably discharged in Jan. 1946.
After returning to civilian life, he spent 3 years in specialty training in the field of Internal Medicine in Chicago.
In 1950 he was one of the founders of the Manitowoc Clinic in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he practiced for 37 years.
The clinic expanded from a staff of four doctors to twenty doctors at the time of his retirement and provided medical services for the specialties of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Urology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology.
He retired partially in 1985 and completely in 1986.
He and Eleanor have spent summers in Minnesota with their children, and are now permanent residents of Florida.
Hobbies are photography, genealogy, and travel.
Their travels consisted of nine trips to Europe (partially for genealogical research), a trip to Russia and Scandinavian countries, and a cruise to Southeast Asia, China and Hong Kong.
"The photography was mostly for pleasure, especially during travel," he said.
Eleanor's family research goes back to the late 1600's and John's family to the late 1700's.
"We have done the research using computers and genealogical software. All the data now is stored on CD-Roms and is being given to family members for their own records and research," he said.
Through all these years John has shared the love and support of his wife, Eleanor. "The marriage has been a very good and happy one," he says, and they, at the age of 85, are still living the good life.
Four children came of this marriage: Larry and Brian both work as editors and writers for software companies and live in San Francisco, CA;
Mike works at the corporate level of 3M Corporation in St. Paul, MN;
Kathy was trained in Vocational & Rehabilatation, but is currently a housewife and mother living in Roseville, MN.
We have five grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
You can reach the Lynchs' at 4540 E. Lantern Lane, Estero, Florida 33928,
or by email