PATRICK FLYNN, a well known lumber dealer of Tyrone, and who effected 
the largest sale of lumber ever made in the State of Pennsylvania, is a 
son of Captain John and Avesia (Kingston) Flynn, and was born at 
Miramichi, in the province of New Brunswick, Dominion of Canada, January 
1, 1833.  His paternal grandfather, John Flynn, was a native and life 
long resident of Ireland, where he followed his profession of civil 
engineer for many years.  His son, Captain John Flynn (father), was born 
in county Roscommon, near Dublin, Ireland, in the first year of the 
present century.  At twenty-five years of age he emigrated from Ireland 
to New Brunswick, where he remained until 1855, when he removed to Lock 
Haven, this State, and from that city went in 1874 to Smith's Mills, 
Clearfield county, at which place he died in 1876, aged seventy-six 
years. His principal business in life was that of lumbering, and at 
different times after coming to America he shipped large quantities of 
choice and selected lumber to England and Ireland, where it was required 
for special purposes. In addition to lumbering he was engaged to some 
extent in farming, in which he met with good success.  He was an old 
time democrat in politics, who never believed in half-way measures in 
political campaigns.  He was active in militia affairs for several 
years, during which time he held the commission of captain and commanded 
a militia company in which he took great pride.  He was a consistent 
member of the Catholic church, and married Avesia Kingston, by whom he 
had a family of thirteen children: Edward T., now dead; Patrick; Francis 
(deceased); Anthony, a lumberman, and now residing on the old homestead 
at Smith's Mills; Paul G., who is engaged in lumbering in West Virginia; 
John, who is likewise in the lumber business in West Virginia; Hon. 
James, a heavy lumber dealer of Altoona, who represented Clearfield 
county in the house of representatives during the sessions of 1881; 
Daniel, a resident and lumberman of West Virginia--the New Dominion; 
Margaret, widow of Daniel Chaplin; Lydia, widow of Edward Flanders, who 
was a lumberman, and was killed in 1891 by a log falling on him; Avesia, 
married George W. Chaplin, who is engaged in lumbering, and they reside 
in Clearfield county; and Madge Marcella, who married Levi P. Smith, of 
Chippewa, Wisconsin, where they reside, and where Mr. Smith is 
superintendent of a log scaling. Patrick Flynn was reared in the British 
province of New Brunswick, where he received his education and resided 
until he was twenty-two years of age, when he accompanied his father to 
Lock Haven, this State.  He removed in 1858 to Clearfield county, where 
he engaged extensively and with good success in the lumbering business, 
and while residing in that county he effected one sale of lumber 
amounting to five hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which was the 
largest private lumber sale ever made in the State of Pennsylvania.  
After following the lumber business in Clearfield county for eighteen 
years, he came, in 1876, to Tyrone, where he soon established lumber 
yards and has handled lumber in large quantities ever since. Patrick 
Flynn has been twice married. His first wife, Roberta J., daughter of 
Allen Sturdevant, he married in August, 1865, and she died on July 4, 
1876 and left three children: John P.; Mary E., now dead; and Roberta E. 
  On August 7, 1879, he was united in marriage with Clara A. Sneeringer, 
daughter of Pius Sneeringer, one of the most successful business men and 
highly respected citizens of Tyrone, and whose sketch appears elsewhere 
in this volume. Patrick Flynn is an unswerving democrat in politics, and 
a member of St. Matthew's Catholic church of Tyrone.  He commenced his 
busy life with nerve, will, and persevering industry and, confident of 
success, he entered into the lumbering business of central Pennsylvania. 
 His efforts in his chosen field soon placed him in command of a 
business that daily increased until it has reached its present extensive 
proportions.  He is a man who is faithful to every business duty, and 
his efficiency for strong work, good judgment in determining upon new 
enterprises, and fertility in resources, are recognized by all who know 
him. Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb 
archives by Eileen