Savin, John A.

SAVIN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:16:59

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.633

JOHN A. SAVIN
John A. Savin, a successful farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 24, Liberty Township, where he owns an excellent farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres, was born in Jackson County, Wisconsin, July 4, 1853. His parents were William and Clarinda (Hayden) Savin, the former born in Delaware, November 10, 1819, while the latter's birth occurred in New York, March 15, 1831. They came to Warren County, Iowa, in the fall of 1868, lo­cating in Liberty Township, west of Liberty Center. The father was a sailor in his younger years but afterward entered land in Wisconsin, and on coming to this county he purchased a farm, being successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his demise on the 25th of November, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years. He gave his political allegiance to the democracy and served in various school offices. In religious faith he was a Methodist. His wife, Mrs. Clarinda Savin, accompanied her parents on their removal to Wisconsin at an early age, and her death occurred in Liberty Township, this county, October 26, 1898. She was likewise a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Savin were born twelve children, ten of whom still survive, the record of the family being as follows: John A., of this review; Shepard, of Nuckolls County, Nebraska ; Rosetta, deceased; Clara, the wife of J. T. Broadwater, of Auburn, Washing­ton; Richard, who makes his home in Dawson County, Nebraska; Julia, also residing in Dawson County, Nebraska ; Florence and Jesse, both living in Daw­son County, Nebrask ; Hiram, who resides near Fresno, California; James, who died in infancy, and Ella and Nellie, twins, who are now in Washington but make their home in Dawson, Nebraska.
John A. Savin was reared in his native state and when fifteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Warren County, Iowa, attend­ing school here to some extent. Throughout almost his entire business career lie has carried on agricultural pursuits, owning a highly improved farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres on section 24, Liberty Township. Eighty acres of this tract was entered from the government by his father-in-law, Samuel Wright, who added to his original purchase until the farm assumed its present proportions.
On the 6th of January, 1887, Mr. Savin was united in marriage to Miss Malinda A. Wright, who was born in Huntington County, Indiana, August 1, 1849, a daughter of Samuel and Mary B. (Job) Wright, natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively. The great great grandmother of Mrs.Savin, named Eliza­beth Maxwell and born in England, was a niece of Daniel Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Wright were married in Ohio but soon afterward removed to Indiana, and on coming to Warren County, Iowa, first established their home near Hartford. The father first entered land near Stuart, Iowa, owning the site on which a part of that town is located, but he never resided there. The year 1854 witnessed his arrived in this county and from 1856 until the time of his demise he made his home on the farm now owned and occupied by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Savin. He brought the place under a high state of development and in addition to the work of general farming also handled considerable stock. In politics he was a Republican and filled a number of township offices, ever discharging his duties in a prompt and capable manner.
Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in religious faith was orig­inally a Quaker. His demise occurred in Liberty Township, February 4, 1887, when he had attained the age of sixty-six years. His wife, who passed away in 1884 at the age of seventy years, was also a member of the Friends Church. Mrs. Savin, who was practically reared on the farm which is still her home, is the eldest of three children, her sisters being: Sarah E., the wife of W. S. Bennett, of Portland, Oregon; and Mary A., who became the wife of Edwin H. McFarland and resides at Liberty Center. By a former marriage Mr. Wright had one son, Isaac H., who enlisted January 1, 1864, in Company D. Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died March 28, 1864. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Savin has been born one daughter. Mary E., a young lady now nine­teen years of age, who is at home.
In his political views Mr. Savin is a staunch Republican and has served in school office,the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. His wife is a member of the Friends Church of Liberty Township, and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community, having gained an extensive circle of warm friends during her fifty-four years' residence in this county. Mr. Savin is widely recognized as a prosperous and enterprising
agriculturist and stock-raiser, and by reason of his genuine personal worth and upright life has won the respect and regard of all with whore has come in contact. The period of his residence here now covers forty years and he is therefore largely familiar with the county's history from pioneer times down to the present.