Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison Daily News
Thursday, January 22, 1880

Mrs. Linley, wife of Col. Isaac Linley of this city, died at his residence of consumption at 3 o'clock a.m. Wednesday and was buried at 3 o'clock p.m. from the residence. She leaves a child 12 years old and her husband to mourn her early demise. Her age was 42 years.
Col. Linley has our sincere sympathies in his bereavement. He has been feeble himself for several months and the loss of his companion at such a time must be peculiarly trying.

Denison Daily News
Thursday, January 22, 1880

It was a great oversight tha tno notices were distributed announcing the dath of Col. I. Linley and the hour of the funeral. He had a great many friends in Denison who, we are certain, would have been present to pay the last respects over his bier had they known of his decease. Owing to this lack of forethought there were very few to accompany the remains to the cemetery, about a dozen. There should also have been some one to make a few remarks either at the house or the grave. Col. Linley was a remarkable man he had made history. And aside from this, a residence of a quarter of a century in our midst, demanded that someone pay a becoming tribute to his memory before his remains were placed beneath the sod.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, September 3, 1899

In conversation with Mr. T.V. Munson we learn that it was owing to explicit instructions from Mrs. Welker of Kansas City, daughter of Mr. I. Linley, that no funeral notices were distributed, and no remarks made at the home or at the interment of her father. We understand she came to Denison about 3 months ago to see her father and she informed the Munson brothers that it was his expressed wish that he should be buried as quietly as possible, and that there should be no service of any kind. Of course, this being the case, there were no grounds for criticism, as the wishes of the dead should be respected, however much it may clash with one's opinions of propriety. The editor of the Gazetteer was an admirer and personal friend of deceased, and this paper but gave expression to his feelings when it entered a protest at the seemingly cold and indifferent manner in which the remains of an old and useful citizen were consigned to mother earth.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, August 27, 1899

JUDGE LINLEY DEAD
Judge Isaac Linley, a pioneer resident of Denison and one of the oldest men of Grayson county, died Thursday night at his home on West Owings street. At the time of death the judge was aged 91 years. For the past 2 years the deceased has been quite weak from the infirmities of old age.
The judge died peacefully, without pain, without a struggle. He ate his breakfast as usual, remarking at the table that he thought he was going to die. At the conclusion of the meal he returned to his bed, fell into a doze and died at 5 o'clock.
Judge Linley was one of the most aggressive free thinkers that ever lived, and as he grew older his convictions seemed to take deeper root. He was a great reader and a profound thinker and those who came in contact with him were profoundly impressed with his intellectual acumen.
He was always ready to defend his convictions and those who crossed swords with the judge usually retired from the contest greatly worsted. He was the most cheerful man that ever lived and his faith in what he believed was right never for a moment wavered. He seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in the present life and enjoyed worldly affairs to the fullest extent. He was a philosopher in the truest sense of the word.
The people of Denison were greatly attached to the judge and always gave him a respectful hearing when he was expounding his peculiar views. But very little of the judge has been seen for the past year, but he was always the subject of affectionate inquiry. Of all persons that have passed out of our pioneer life none desrve a more loving remembrance than Judge Isaac Linley.
Mr. W.B. Munson furnished the following brief biographical information:
Col. I. Linley was born near Mayesville, Kentucky in July 1808, hence was just entering his 92d year. In 1825 he removed to Illinois, where he resided until he came to Denison in 1875. He served the people of Illinois as a member of the legislature and was also a member of the consitutional convention held in Springfield in 1847. He always took much interest in politics, being a Democrat of the old school, and was well acquainted with Douglas, Lincoln and other noted men of his time. Before coming to Texas he had accumulated quite a fortune, which, in the latter years of his life he divied with his children. His first wife, who died in Illinois, bore him 7 children; 4 are living. He married again in 1878 or 1879 and by this wife he had one child, a boy.
The Munson brothers of this city are nephews of deceased.