Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 207
HON. JOHN MAHIN, one of the prominent citizens of this county, and editor of the Muscatine Journal, was born in Noblesville, Ind., on the 8th of December, 1833, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Mahin. At an early age he entered a printing-office, having had from his earliest childhood a strong desire to learn the art of printing. In 1847, he came with the family to Bloomington, now Muscatine, Iowa, where he secured employment in the Herald office, since known as the Muscatine Journal. There he remained for five years, a diligent and industrious journeyman, who spent his leisure time in the study of books and men, observing the character and actions of the latter, and gaining a fund of information which has proved of infinite value to him in latter life. When nineteen years of age he commenced publishing and editing the Muscatine Journal on his own account, aided in the outside work by his father, and for two years continued this line of work with satisfactory pecuniary results, having succeeded where others failed. At the end of that time he sold his interest with the intention of pursuing a classical course of study, and with this end in view entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, but was obliged to abandon this cherished scheme after a few months, on account of a serious attack of illness, which for a time threatened his life. In 1856 he purchased his interest in the Muscatine Journal, and resumed editorial control of the paper, which he has since retained, having been longer connected with the Iowa press than any man thus far associated with it.

In the month of April, 1861, Mr. Mahin was appointed Postmaster of Muscatine by President Lincoln, retaining the position for eight years, and in October, 1869, was elected to the House of Representatives of Iowa for a period of two years. serving with distinction. In June, 1873, he was re-appointed Postmaster, and held the office until 1878. During the war he was one of the most vigorous defenders of the administration, throwing his whole power into the Union cause, and being instrumental in raising a large number of volunteers. He was secretary and manager of the Soldiers' Monument Association of Muscatine County, which erected the beautiful shaft to the memory of the heroes who fell in the cause of the Union and freedom upon Southern battle-fields, and which now ornaments the court-house square of Muscatine. He was also actively interested and largely instrumental in the organizing of the Muscatine Building and Loan Association, an organization which accomplished untold good in providing homes for the mechanics and laboring men of his city. He has also been President of the Iowa Press Association, an organization which has existed for many years. He has also been a member and promoter of the several temperance organizations of the city and the county, and is among the foremost in every good work, whether charitable, benevolent or reformatory, undertaken in the neighborhood. He has been a Methodist since his eighteenth year, and is one of the most active and prominent members of the church, and has served twice as delegate to the General Conference.

On the 17th of May, 1859, at Muscatine, Iowa, Mr. Mahin was united in marriage with Miss Ann Herr, who died March 12, 1862. On the 20th of September, 1864, he was again married, becoming the husband of Miss Ann Lee, of Johnson County, Iowa, and by their union five children have been born: Ella Cassie, who died in 1870; and J. Lee, Mabel, Florence and Harold, yet at home.

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