Laverty, John M.

LAVERTY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/9/2021 at 14:01:41

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.445

LAVERTY, JOHN M., Mr. John M. Laverty, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 21st of December, 1792, and was the youngest of seven children, but one of whom survived him. His father died in his boyhood, and his mother removed overland to Pickaway county, Ohio. During the war of 1812, he twice entered the Federal service, first during the spring of 1813, as a conscript, for six months, and afterward as a volunteer. During this service he was stationed at Sandusky, Detroit, and at some of the principal military stations in Canada. At the expiration of his term of volunteer service he returned to Pickaway county, where he continued to reside with and care for his mother. Her residence was near the present city of Columbus, the capital of Ohio, then a desolate region, without a building or other visible mark of civilization. In 1818 he removed to Indiana, and assisted in erecting one of the first frame buildings in the city of Terre Haute. About this he was married to Miss Nancy McNutt, an estimable christian woman, with whom he lived happily until 1860, when she departed this life, after a brief but painful illness. He continued to reside in Indiana until 1848, when he removed to this county and settled on a farm about five miles northeast of Indianola, where he resided until near the time of his death, spending the last year of his life with his adopted daughter, Mrs. Dr. Fisk, of Indianola. In 1861 he married again, his second wife being Mrs. Electa Miller, of Palmyra, this county. Mr. Laverty was a man of great public spirit, and was identified with many of the important events in the early history of these Western States, in which it was his good fortune to live, and he always related reminiscences of this portion of his life with great zest. His religious life was deep and settled, though quiet. He was for forty years a member of the Methodist church. His religion was of an affirmative, positive type - nothing negative. In the private walks of life his religious character was most strongly marked. He was charitable in his dealings with all, both in money and in his methods of looking upon the faults of others. He was a man of good education, principally gained in that school of life and experience so beneficial to pioneers of the West. He gave little attention to public affairs and none to the seeking of office, and, though possessing the qualifications in an eminent degree, held only the office of county surveyor - the first to fill the position.He was one of those men to whom this county owes its present position, as he contributed to put its affairs on that solid, enduring basis which had made it what it now is. He died in Indianola, on the 1st day of January, 1872, in the 80th year of his age. His only child was James Laverty, yet an honored citizen of the county.