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         THOMAS GARVIN, a general life and fire insurance agent, residing in Morning Sun, was born in New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1822, and is a son of John and Hannah (Whan) Garvin, who were natives of Washington County, Pa. They were the parents of six children, three of whom died in infancy: W. W. died in Elm Grove Township, March 2, 1855; and Mary became the wife of Gilson Cook, a resident of Greenwood, Jackson Co., Mo. From Ohio the family removed to Washington County, Pa., in 1826, and in that county our subject received his education in the common schools. He also attended . . .

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. . . the mathematical department of the Franklin College of New Athens, Ohio. His father was a miller, and of him he learned the trade, which he followed in Washington County until eighteen years of age, when he again attended school. Subsequently learning the carpenter’s and joiner’s trade, he worked in that line for about two and a half years, and then removed to Wellsburg, W. Va., where he again followed that occupation.

On the 25th of August, 1845, Mr. Garvin was united in marriage with Mary A. Liggit, a native of Washington County, Pa., and a daughter of Thomas and Amelia Liggit. In the spring of 1849 they, accompanied by John Garvin and his family, removed to Holmes County, Ohio, where they resided for four and a half years, at the end of which time, in October, 1853, they emigrated to Cedar County, Iowa. Not liking the location, two months later they came to Louisa County, settling in Elm Grove Township, where Mr. Garvin purchased 440 acres of land. For only two short years his wife was permitted to enjoy her new home. In 1855 there came to his home a party of emigrants who were afflicted with the cholera, and the disease was transmitted to them; in the same year, 1855, Mr. Garvin lost a brother and three children. His mother died Oct. 7, 1856. All were devoted members of the Reform Presbyterian Church. The father, who was born Aug. 4, 1794, survived his wife for many years, dying Aug. 1, 1885. He was also a member of the Reform Presbyterian Church, and was an honored citizen of Louisa County. Two of the children of Thomas and Mary Garvin are yet living: Mary A., wife of Albert Caughey, foreman of a large carriage factory, of Omaha, Neb.; and William B., a druggist residing in Brookfield, Mo.

On the 19th of May, 1857, Mr. Garvin was again united in marriage, becoming the husband of Miss Susan S. Cannon, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Rev. John Cannon, a minister of the Reform Presbyterian Church. Seven children were born of this union, though four died in infancy. Those living are: Martha A., wife of Frank Brown, a grocer of Morning Sun; Agnes J., a teacher of recognized ability, now employed in the High School of Morning Sun; and Margaret A., who is at home. In 1871, in order that he might give his children better educations, and also for the purpose of benefiting the health of himself and his wife, Mr. Garvin moved to the village of Morning Sun. Although all possible aid was procured for his wife, her health steadily failed, and on the 28th of January, 1886, she passed away. The last eighteen years of her life she had been an invalid, but she bore her sufferings uncomplainingly, and was ready when her final summons came. She was a consistent Christian, having always, when health permitted, been an active worker of the Reform Presbyterian Church, of which she was a lifelong member, and her death proved a great loss to the community.

In October, 1866, Mr. Garvin began the insurance business, which he has continued ever since. For almost a quarter of a century he has been connected with the Burlington Insurance Company, which is one of the most reliable in the country. In that time he has written about 10,000 policies, all claims have been promptly adjusted, and to the satisfaction of the parties concerned, and no one, who has once insured, fails to insure again if he has a fire. In one year the county lost in Mr. Garvin’s field of labor over $7,000, but within eleven days all losses had been settled. In all moral and religious reforms he also takes great interest, and is ever ready to aid in the promotion of a good cause. He not only teaches temperance by word of mouth, but also by example, having yet to present himself at a bar and call for his first drink of liquor, a fact of which few can boast, and of which he may well feel proud. In early life he was a member of the Whig party, was always a strong Abolitionist, and when the Republican party was formed he joined its ranks, and has since fought under its banner. He is ardent in the support of the principles of that party, and takes great interest in the political affairs of the community. In August, 1845, in Washington County, Pa., he united with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and in 1854 joined the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Louisa County, of which he is a liberal supporter and an earnest worker. Since 1854 Mr. Garvin has been a resident of Louisa County, since which time he has not only witnessed but has also taken part in . . .

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. . . the great changes which have caused the once wild and unbroken prairies to blossom like the rose. He has ever been a man of progressive ideas. While residing in Wellsburg, W. Va., he was the first to replace the old fireplace by our modern cooking stoves, and was also the first to introduce the stoves into Washington County, Pa. His honesty and fair dealing in all business transactions, his unassuming mode of life, his temperate habits, and his kindliness of heart, have won him the confidence and good-will of all with whom he comes in contact, and as a citizen, he is honored and respected throughout the county.