John Gwin 1792 - 1883

GWIN, BEAVER, MANATT

Posted By: Ann Jaber (email)
Date: 1/11/2006 at 17:39:58

OBITUARY JOHN GWIN
(March 1792 - August 1883)

The aged pioneer of Iowa is no more. His care and suffering are ended. His bones lie still enrapt in the wrinkled flesh, in the old favorite burying ground out near the old State Road, by which he lived, when the Musquakie Indians prowled around as thick as prairie chickens do today. He preferred the old home of the dead rather than our beautiful cemetery here.

In the month of March 1792, he was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 91 years and six months ago. When he was 17 years old he removed to Ohio, Holmes county, 1809. In a few years he built the first mill in that county. He was compelled to build a block house in order to shield himself from the Indians there. He took in with him Mr. S. C. Beaver a well known citizen for many years of Cedar Rapids. When Mr. Beaver was 14 years old Mr. Gwin took him into Pennsylvania, and procured for him a position in a glass factory.

The history of this remarkable old man would fill a large volume were it carefully written. A man of medium stature, heavy frame, and wonderful muscular power. Capable of great endurance, a good memory, yet little education.

During the past few years he has been what could not be otherwise expected, a great care to his friends, and especially Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Gwin, who cared for him during his last days.

It has been only a few months ago that he would daily ride into town. He sat as erect in his saddle as U.S. Grant or Robert E. Lee, even though he had pasted his 91 years upon the highway of lifes scenes. He would sit with satisfaction and talk of his children, 30 in number, now living, and most astonishing 65 great grand children.

They are scattered in every direction, some are in Texas, one fills a position well known by the people of this county, a professorship of Latin and Greek in an Eastern College, Mr. Irving J. Manatt.

When he settled in Ohio his market place was Pittsburg. He hauled all produce there with an old fashioned wagon and four or six horses as the roads and load demanded, and did the same thing when he first came into Iowa, 31 years ago.

The funeral services were conducted by Dr. W.W. Orris at the home S. C. Gwin. After reading the very appropriate scripture passage in St. John, "In my Fathers house are many are many mansions," and also the 23rd Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want" etc. the Dr. made some practical remarks. In fact, such remarks as are appropriate from the fact that he does not forget that he is talking to the living and not to nor for the dead.

To add more in memory of he whom we all knew as "Old Uncle Johnny" would be useless, except to say, that we now see the difference in living in youth at this age of the world. Had he been born the day he died instead of 90 odd years ago, how different would have been his life. He was born when boys were obliged to labor as hard to obtain a common education, as they do now to become millionaires, and in fact when very many could not at all from the fact there were none to teach. Our sympathy should always be exercised when we see old men and women who were deprived of these advantages, and we should remember that it is our duty to make every allowance for the imperfections of the great grandfathers and mothers of our day. Old Uncle Johnny was always ready 20 years ago to do a kind favor for any of his neighbors. No one passed along the old State Road but had a good word to say for him.

The writer of this article calls to mind the time when the great California boom was rushing its thousands thither, and the emigrants would express the likes and dislikes to those with whom they had stopped over night. None had a harsh word to say of Uncle Johnny. There are other settlers of whom I could say the same, and a few otherwise. Therefore while he had not an educated mind, he had a noble heart. He was an old man when we who are now grandfathers were born. And along with the pathway of human life, never had a law suit nor did he ever sue anyone. Would rather give whatever the dispute might be about between him and a neighbor than to say that he would force settlement. He had seen the hardships of frontier life, and could appreciate the great change from bad to good in the progress of the times; hence used the proper discretion in all his dealings with man.

It is possible, never another pen will be used as to him. It is possible that but few of the settlers who are now in this country know him, but here and there all over this continent are men who at some time saw him and many will recall the name of "Old Uncle Johnny" Gwin.

He sleeps his last earthly sleep, his body lies in a lonely place, where seldom mortal eyes will see the tombstone his children will erect over his grave but all the same, he has none the less made his marking the great directory of mankind. Once a man of great worth to those around him, twice a child to be cared for. First his mother's care, last his daughter-in law's care. But after all it was a father's wants, it was father's care, and dutiful sons and daughters are ever ready to lend a helping hand.

Tis now ended, the cares and trials are over and soon will be forgotten. We do not comment on the future, we know even but little of the past. Our belief is only equaled by our hope, and our hope is that the language read at his burial is expressive of all that is true.

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Grandfather Gwin leaves a large relationship among the living. He leaves those who have the hard struggle of life and those who are prosperous. Those well versed in arts and sciences and those who have not the best education of the day in which we live.

He leaves those of every age among the living, and they all mourn over the loss of one who has for nearly a century been among men. May he rest in peace, and the living profit by what they know of the aged Uncle Johnny Gwin.

Victor, Iowa 23 September 1883

I.S.R.

Copied from the book, "Gwin, Wigant, Hartgrave, Wilhite, Coffman, Caster, Ammon and Allied Families." by Vern R. Wigant Sr. copyright 1989.