ISAAC LINLEY was born April 26, 1855, in Livingston County, and is a son of Dr. Thomas and Maria M. Linley. The Linleys were English people; subject's grandfather, Joseph Linley, came from the "Old Country" in an early day, and settled in Lewis County, Ky. He was a skillful mechanic, and in his native country worked at the cutler's trade. After coming to America he engaged in the blacksmithing trade, which he followed for many years. His death occurred in Illinois, some time between 1840 and 1850, at the age of seventy-six. Thomas Linley was born in 1806 in Mason County, Ky., and was a physician. He practiced medicine in the counties of Mason, Lewis and McCracken, and came to Livingston County in 1840, locating at the town of Salem. He was eminently successful in his profession, and during his residence at Salem became quite wealthy, accumulating a handsome estate. He died at his home place one-half mile from the village, March 29, 1880. The maiden name of subject's mother was Maria M. Barker. She is a daughter of William Barker, of Virginia, and dates her birth from the year 1812, and is living with her son. Thomas and Maria Linley were the parents of thirteen children: Mary M., Martha, James M., Joseph W., Alice, deceased; Savilla F., Charles H., Maria, Laura, Isaac, Henry C., deceased; Frelinghuysen and Thomas, deceased. Isaac Linley was reared on a farm, and received his early education at the schools of Salem. He attended the Princeton College, Caldwell County, a short time; in 1871 he went to Atchison, Kan., where he attended the high school for a period of two years. Later he attended school at Waterloo, Iowa, for one year, and in 1874, returned to his native county, and commenced the study of law at Smithland, under W. D. Greer, with whom he remained a short time. He afterward entered the office of Bush & Hendrick, under whose instruction he pursued his reading for two years, at the end of which time, in 1876, he was admitted to the bar, receiving his license from Judge B. P. Cissell. He commenced the practice of his profession at Marion, Crittenden County, in partnership with L. H. James, where he remained two years. In 1879 he went to Nebraska, and located at Columbus, where for one year he practiced law successfully, but at the end of that time he was called home on account of his father's death. At the present time he is running the home farm, which is one of the best in the county. He practices his profession in connection with his farm and stock interests and is one of the most active business men in the county. He was elected magistrate of Salem Precinct in 1882, and holds the position at the present time. Mr. Lindley was married September 1, 1880, to Miss Belle Patterson, daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Coffield) Patterson, of Crittenden County. Three children are the fruits of this union, viz.: Ada, Thomas and Grover C. James M. Linley is a successful physician of Atchison, Kan., he graduated, at the Miami Medical School at Cincinnati, Ohio, also at the Bellevue Medical College, New York City. Charles H. Linley, graduated at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1876, and is a physician of high standing in Mt. Pleasant, Atchison Co., Kan. Joseph W. Linley graduated in medicine at the Medical College of Ann Arbor, Mich.; he did not like the profession however, and soon abandoned it and went into the stock business in Colorado, where he now lives, and has a fine cattle ranch and large herd of cattle.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 825.