Jarvis, Alva H.

PITCHER, COOK, FISHER

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/9/2009 at 14:25:38

Alva H. Jarvis has been a resident of Bremer county for a number of years and during the greater part of the time has engaged in buying and selling horses, being today one of the best known men in this line of work in Iowa. He is proprietor of a large livery in Waverly and his long experience and expert knowledge of horses are the qulaifications upon which he has founded his well deserved and substantial success. He was born in Painesville, Ohio, June 3, 1846, a son of Captain Jesse and Catherine(Pitcher) Jarvis, a former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. In early life the father was a captain on the Great Lakes but later he came west, locating in Waterloo, this state, in the early '50s. He engaged in farming five miles north of that city until he moved to Colfax county, Nebraska, where he became an extensive landowner. His death occurred in that state, his wife later passing away in Iowa. The father served in the regular army, engaged in furnishing supplies, and he was progressive and public-spirited in all matters of citizenship.

Alva H. Jarvis acquired a public-school education and when he was eighteen years of age enlisted in Company H, Third Division of the Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he went to the front with the Fifteeth Army Corps. He served under John A. Logan, was with Sherman on the march to the sea and was wounded at Bentonville. He had joined the army on the last call for volunteers and had served one year when Lee surrendered. He was mustered out in Louisville, Kentucky and after his discharge returned to Iowa, engaging in farming in Blackhawk county for some time. Eventually he moved to Warren township, this county, where he was married and where he secured land, breaking the soil and building a house upon it. Afterward he moved to Waverly and took a government contract to carry mail over the West Union route. He used to swim the Wapsi river time afer time, for there was no railroad east of Waverly and his route extended to West Union. After one year Mr. Jarvis moved to Sumner, where he established the first livery in the community and also served as a mail carrier over four routes. He waa elected sheriff in 1885 and served four years. Previous to this he had spent a similar period of time as deputy sheriff. He owned business and residence property in Sumner but sold part of his livery stock and three years later the barns and other equipment, moving into Waverly when elected sheriff, where he has since resided. He established himself in the hotel and livery business, but after three years discontinued this enterprise, concentrating his attenion upon buying and selling horses. He then bought his present premises, a half block from Bremer avenue, on South State street where he has full equipment for the conduct of funerals and a number of hacks and vehicles. He still buys and sells horses, keeping from seventeen to twenty always on hand, and both branches of his enterprise have become important and profitable under his able management.

On the 3d of December, 1867, Mr. Jarvis was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Cook, who was born in Spencer, New York, September 11, 1849, a daughter of William and Olive H. (Fisher) Cook, the former born in Tompkins county, New York, September 7, 1814, and the latter in Tioga county, November 22, 1827. In early life the father was a gunsmith but he later turned his attention to farming. In 1857 he came as a pioneer to Iowa and he afterward became an extensive landowner, making his home in Bremer county until his death, which occurred on the 5th of October, 1876. He was always interested in school affairs and in early days conducted school in his residence, raising the teacher's salary himself. Later a schoolhouse was built on his land. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred August 24, 1893.

Mr. Jarvis is a blue lodge Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and served as sheriff and deputy sheriff of Bremer county, during which time he was once shot by desperadoes and severely wounded. He is now holding the office of constable and he discharges the duties of the position conscientiously and capably. He is always interested in matters of citizenship and has at the same time been most diligent in business, improving his opportunities to the best advantage. He is now regarded as one of the representative residents of Bremer county and is widely and favorably known.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914