Obit: Lynch, James "Ernest" (1889 - 1941)
Contact:  Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lynch, Vaughan, Longenecker

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thurs., 11 Dec. 1941

Lych, James Ernest (1889 - 4 Dec. 1941)

Since his first venture in engineering the people of Neillsville had watched with keen interest the gradual rise of Ernest Lynch in the industrial world, and it was with genuine and widespread sorrow that the news of his death reached Neillsville on Thursday, December four, Mr. Lynch having died shortly before eleven a.m. that day at a hospital in Duluth after a brief illness with a heart ailment with which he had been suffering occasionally for several years. He was 52 years of age.

Ernest Lynch grew to young manhood here, attending the Neillsville Schools and the state normal school at Stevens Point.

At the time of his death he had attained the position of vice president and general sales manager of the Minnesota Power and Light company. He was widely known in the industry and was active in civic affairs in the city of Duluth.

During the World War, Mr. Lynch served in France as an engineering officer, remaining there after the war to direct reconstruction work.

His first business assignment was with Stone and Webster, an engineering corporation of Boston. While engaged with that company he directed a large project in Montana and later was named superintendent of construction. He was advanced later to assistance vice president and construction manager. He directed the huge power project at Keokuk, supplying power to St. Louis, Mo., a project widely known among engineering men. He afterward became general manager of Page & Hill Co., Minneapolis, and in July, 1928, joined the Minnesota Power and Light Co., as sales manager. In 1931 he was promoted to the general sales manager ship and in 1935 he was elected director. He was named vice president in charge of sales in 1936.

Mr. Lynch also was widely known for his inventive genius. He was the inventor of many mechanical devices, including a mechanical electric water heater and a special process for prolonging the life of telephone and telegraph poles.

He was past president of the North Central Electric association, Kitchi Cammi and Northland country club, and was a member of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Marin Vaughan, a sister of the departed left Friday for Duluth to attend the rites which where held there on Saturday, she and Mrs. Lynch accompanying the body to Neillsville Monday morning. Brief services were held at the grave in the Lynch family lot with the Rev. G. W. Longenecker officiating.

He is survived by his wife, the sister, Mrs. Vaughan, and a brother, John Lynch, Milwaukee, the latter also being here for the rites.