Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-07-05
FRANK A. LINNEY
DIESSUDDENLY AT
HIS BOONE HOME
Whole State Shocked by Unexpected
Demise; People From All Parts of
North Carolina Present at Funeral
Service; Rests in Boone Cemetery.
By JIM RIVERS

Frank Armtleld Linney, 81, attor-
ney, statesman and God-fearing citi-
en-, died at his home in Boone Friday
morning at o'clock, following an
illness of only few hours. A de-
rangement of the heart was given as
the cause of his death.
Probably no greater shock has
ever been registered in this section
than that which accompanied his
passing. From the humblest home in
the hills of Western North Carolina
to the palatial mansions of the rich
and affluent there arises dirge of
sorrow at the untimely demise of this
colossal figure in North Carolina life.
Frank Linney was born near Tay-
lorsville, Alexander County, June 20,
1874, a son of the late Romulus 2.
and Dorcas Stevenson Linney, and
spent the early days of young man
hood there. He was educated at Trim
ity College, now Duke University,
1892-1S95, following which he at
tended the law school Of Judge A. C.
Avery, in Morganton.
liz w clS III NSI4SSu " DI dlClCe law
in 1896 and shortly thereafter
moved his residence to Boone, where
he established an office. His father,
previous to this time, had acquired
Tater Hill his summer home, and
other valuable holdings in Watauga.
He was married to Miss Mary Hes
HE Matheson on January "a, 1900,
4o+ L:
dren, four of whom survive him.
They are: Baxter NJ. Linney, a stu
dent in Duke University Law School,
Durham; Mrs. Paul A. Coffey, Ken
meth B. Linney and Miss Mary
Frances Linney, all of Boone. Will
liam Armfield Linney, the eldest
child, died several years ago.
Frank Linneys genial smile,
straightforward manner and marked
intellect soon gained for himself
place of prominence in State Repub-
lican circles, and followed career
filled to the brim with personal
achievement
He served as Solicitor of the
Eighth Judicial District from 1906
to 1914; was twice Republican can
didate for Congress in the Eighth
Congressional District; a candidate
for Governor in 1916, opposing the
late Thomas Walter Beckett; chair
man of the North Carolina Repub-
ican Executive Committee. 1913
1921; appointed District Attorney of
the Western District of North Caro-
lima by President Harding in 1921,
serving in that capacity until his res
ignation December s, 1927. He was
also for a number Of years Repub-
lican elector-at-large from North
Carolina.
Because of his ceaseless efforts in
behalf OF education, Mr.. Linney was
prominently identified with the insti-
tutions of learning in North Caro-
lima He served four years as trus-
tee Of the State University; a trus-
tee TOR twenty or more years of the
Appalachian State Normal School,
and. on June 4, 1928, was appointed
a trustee of Duke University. He
was member of the Boone Method
ist Church and served for a number
of years on it's senior steward board;
also Royal Arch Mason.
When death came Frank Linney
was still actively engaged in the
practice of mis- chosen profession,
and was playing leading part in
the civic, political and educational
life of his town and State. Just pre-
vious to the Republican National
Convention he made tour of the
State of West Virginia and delivered
number of speeches advancing the
candidacy of Herbert Hoover for the
Presidency. His interest in the ad-
vancement of his town and county
had not waned and every move for
their improvement was given his
loyal support.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Boone Methodist Church
Saturday afternoon by the pastor,
Rev. c. H. Moser, assisted by DR.. w.
A. Stanbury, pastor of Edenton
Street Methodist Church of Raleigh;
Rev. J. H. Carter, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of Taylorsville;
Rev P. A. Hicks, pastor of the First
Baptist Church of Boone; Rev. Guy
L. Vannah, pastor Advent Christian
Church of Boone; Rev. j. A. Yount,
pastor Lutheran Church of Boone,
and Rev. M. B. Woosley, former pas
tor of Boone Methodist Church.
The church auditorium was
packed with admiring friends, rep
resenting every class and creed, who
had come, many from distant points,
to pay their last respects to this
fallen chieftain. The floral offering
was most profuse, it being visible
testimony to the fact that Frank
Linney had incarcerated himself in
the hearts of multitude. : s
A male quartet softly sang Tenny-
sons Crossing the Bar; a prayer
was uttered; passage of Scripture