Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 770
JOHN S. MCGAVREN

One of the pioneers of Harrison county, Iowa, is John S. MCGAVREN, who was born in St. Johns township at the opening of the Civil War and has spent his whole life in this county. After graduating from college Mr. MCGAVREN practiced law for a few years and then became connected with the First National Bank as cashier, a position which he has held for the past quarter of a century.

John S. MCGAVREN, the son of Dr. Robert and Elizabeth (KIRKLAND) MCGAVREN, was born in old St. Johns, now Missouri Valley, Iowa, January 11, 1861. His father was born in Pennsylvania and came to Iowa about 1850 and located just over the line from Harrison county in Pottawattamie county, and some time later Doctor MCGAVREN moved to Harrison county and helped organize the town of St. Johns, which later became absorbed by Missouri Valley. He was one of the first settlers in St. Johns, which was established as a town December 5, 1857, and was one of the petitioners asking for the establishment of the town. Doctor MCGAVREN had settled on a farm in Ohio temporarily after leaving his native state of Pennsylvania and came from that state to Iowa and entered government land in the woods of Pottawattamie county. Shortly afterward he moved over into Harrison county and lived here the remainder of his life. He owned the first hardware store in Missouri Valley, which was destroyed in the big fire of 1872. He was a member of the board of supervisors in the early government of the county and an active factor in the general welfare of the community. He bought and sold land, but disposed of most of his real estate holdings before his death. The old home farm he reserved for his children. Dr. Robert MCGAVREN and wife were the parents of six children: James K., deceased; G. W., deceased; Mrs. Mary E. Boies, Missouri Valley; John S., of Missouri Valley; H. S., of San Francisco, California, and Hugh A., who died in infancy. The parents of these six children have been dead many years.

John s. MCGAVREN was educated in the schools of St. Johns, and in Missouri Valley. In the spring of 1878 he entered the college at Ames, Iowa, and was graduated in 1881, in what was then known as the scientific course. Two years later he was graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, and at once returned to Missouri Valley and began the practice of law with Mr. Dewell, a partnership which continued until September, 1890, at which time Mr. MCGAVREN gave up the practice of law and became the cashier of the First National Bank of Missouri Valley. Mr. MCGAVREN is recognized as an able financier, a fact which is evidenced by his long connection with the bank.

Mr. MCGAVREN was married in October, 1889, to Nellie M. BELL, of Clarence, Iowa, a daughter of H. M. Bell, and to this union six children have been born, Ward R., who is married and lives in Missouri Valley; Ruth, who is teaching in the public schools at Missouri Valley, Iowa; Stough A., a student in Ames College, Iowa; Herbert and Ewart, twins, and John Stanton, who is still living with his parents and attending the public schools of Missouri Valley.

Mr. MCGAVREN is a Democrat in politics, but owing to his business connections has never taken an active part in political affairs. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights Templar and the Shrine. He is a half owner in the Darting & MCGAVREN canning factory at Glenwood, Mills county, Iowa, and also has farming interests in this county.

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