Birth: January 22, 1853; Rowan County, N.C.
Death: March 25, 1923, Mt. Pleasant, Cabarrus County, N.C.

Parents: The Reverend Joseph Alexander Linn and Margaret Ann (Bernhardt) Linn.

Spouse 1: Alice F. (Nunamaker) Linn.
Children:
Myron Oscar
Marie Lucille
Margaret Alice
Joseph (died in third month; mother died thirteen days after his birth, 1887).

Spouse 2: Mary Cordelia (Miller) Linn, sister of the Reverend C. B. Miller
Married: July 1888 in Rowan County, North Carolina.
Children:
Rev.John Kenneth,
Charles Adolphus
JustinArthur
Hubert Miller (drowned 1922 just after graduating from Gettysburg College).

Education: North Carolina College, A.B. 1874; Philadelphia Seminary, 1877.

Ordination: 1877 by North Carolina Synod.

Calls: St. Matthew-St. Peter-Luther’s, Rowan County, 1877-80; Beth Eden, Newton, 1881-83; First, Albemarle, 1887-88, Supply 1890; Trinity, Versailles, Ohio, 1893-98; Holy Trinity, Mt. Pleasant-New Bethel-Mt. Zion, Stanly County, 1898-1902; St. James, Holston Synod, Greeneville, Tenn., 1903-05; St. Peter, Rowan County, 1907-09; organized St. James, Rockwell, 1907-11; Christiana-Wittenberg, Granite Quarry, 1909- 11; Bethlehem, Pomaria, S.C., 1912-14. After retiring, served Luther’s, Rowan CountyNew Bethel-Mt. Zion, Stanly County, 1914-15. Other: President, North Carolina Synod, 1884-85; Secretary, 1880-81, 1883-84; Principal, Mont Amoena Seminary, 1885-91.

Burial:
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery
Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, USA

Source: Synod, Lutheran Church in America North Carolina. “Life Sketches of Lutheran Ministers : North Carolina and Tennessee Synods, 1773-1965,” 1966. http://divinityarchive.com

Obituary
Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N. C.), 28 Mar 1923, p. 21.

REV. J. ADOLPHUS LINN
MOUNT PLEASANT, March 27 – Rev. J. Adolphus Linn, a prominent and well loved Lutheran minister of this state, died Sunday night at the parsonage of Holy Trinity church, Mt. Pleasant, the home of his son, Rev. Charles A. Linn. His last illness, brights disease with heart and other complications, was not unexpected as his family and friends had realized for months that his death was only a question of time. The end came peacefully.

He was born January 22, 1853, having attained the ripe age of over 70 years. His place of birth was in Rowan county near Gold Hil. After graduating at North Carolina College (not Mt. Pleasant Collegiate institution) he studied theology in Mt. Arey Lutheran Theological seminary, Philadelphia, and entered upon a successful career as a Lutheran minister and educator, which continued until a few years ago, when his health failed. His work extended into North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio. He was pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran church for five years, and was associated as instructor with North Carolina college and Mont Amoena seminary for 20 years, having been president of the latter institution for eight years.

He was twice married, the first time to Miss Alice Nunnamaker, who with her two infant sons and one daughter, Margaret (Mrs. Whitehead Kluttz) preced [predeceased] him many years ago. His second wife was Miss Mary Miller, who survives him with three sons and one daughter: Rev. John K. Linn, professor in the Lutheran Theological seminary at Kumumato, Japan; Rev. Charles A. Linn, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran and Mt. Gilead Lutheran churches, Mt. Pleasant and also instructor in Latin at Mont Amoena seminary; Rev. J. Arthur Linn, missionary to Japan at Tokyo, and Miss Lucille Linn, teacher in the Salisbury graded schools.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock, under the direction of Rev. J. L. Morgan, president of the North Carolina Lutheran synod. The internment was in the Lutheran cemetery in that town.

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Other:

From Our Church Paper (New Market, VA), Vol. 12, No. 27, July 3, 1884, p. 2.

Mt. Pleasant Female Seminary.—Rev. J. A. Linn, President of N. C. Synod, and former financial agent of N. C. College has been secured as its Principal, and will open the first of August, with a full and efficient corps of instructors.

Brother Linn was recently chosen Pastor of Bethel charge, near Mt. Pleasant, but it is not known whether he will accept,—a graduate of the Philadelphia Seminary, combining many graces peculiar to a Christian gentleman. The Seminary will open with great advantages, and with the blessing of God will prosper.

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From Our Church Paper (New Market, VA), Vol. 19, No. 26, July 1, 1891, p. 2.

The Board of Directors of tho Mt. Pleasant Female Seminary, N. C., have reelected Rev. Prof. J. A. Linn as principal, and he has accepted the position.