Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903. pp. 384-386.

J. B. GAVIN.

The man who makes the greatest success in life is not always he who starts with the greatest advantages and best opportunities. This is well exemplified in the case of J. B. Gavin, the subject of this sketch. He was born in the county of Galway, Ireland, August 10, 1845, but only the first two years of his life were spent in his native land. In 1848 his parents, with all their children, emigrated to America and located in Ross county, Ohio. They remained there six years, when, in 1854, they moved to Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana, where Mr. Gavin has since resided. The parents of J. B. Gavin were George and Mary (Benton) Gavin, natives of Ireland, as were their ancestors for many generations. In his early manhood, in his native land, George Gavin was a member of the Royal Irish constabulary, or government police force, and as such did duty in many of the cities of Ireland. On locating in America he devoted himself to farming. He was a man of good education and during the winter months found plenty of employment teaching. After moving to Wells county, for three years he rented land, but finding that unprofitable he determined to purchase a place of his own. A tract of eighty acres was bought in Liberty township and as soon as a home was prepared thereon the family moved and occupied it. It is the same land on which his grandson and namesake now lives, and a debt was incurred for the greater part of the purchase price. This land was cleared, improved and added to until it became a superb farm of two hundred and ten acres, all in one body. To George and Mary Gavin seven children were born, viz: Robert, now a resident of Liberty township; Mary was the wife of Joseph Cobbum, but is now deceased; Sarah is the wife of Harrison Snow and they live in Kansas; J. B. is the subject of this sketch and will be more particularly referred to hereafter; Delilah died at the age of ten years; Henry J. died at the age of eight years; Henrietta died on the voyage from Ireland. The father of this family served a number of terms as township trustee. He was a Democrat, took an active part in politics and made his influence widely felt. His death occurred December 12, 1882.

J. B. Gavin attended the public schools of Liberty township until he was eighteen years of age. The yearly term was seldom longer than three months during the winter. George, the father, and Robert, the elder brother of J. B. Gavin, were both teachers and their attendance at school being considered much more important than that of the latter, he was often required to remain at home working when he should have been at school. His advantages for securing an education, therefore, did not equal those of the other children of the family. He, however, was an apt pupil and when he did attend, it was to some purpose. When he reached the age of twenty his father accorded him a share of the crop raised on the farm, and this arrangement was continued until his marriage and for five years thereafter.

On March 31, 1870, James B. Gavin was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Hedges, who was born July 6, 1848, in Harrison township, Wells county, Indiana. She was the daughter of Robert and Sophia (Kirkwood) Hedges. The father of Robert was Elijah Hedges, a native of Virginia, but the progenitor of the family came from England. Robert Hedges was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he married Sophia Kirkwood, a native of Pennsylvania, and there he devoted himself to farming for a number of years. He moved his family to Harrison township, Wells county, in 1846, and there he still lives at the age of eighty-five years. Sophia died in August, 1870. Robert and Sophia Hedges were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom were living at the time of their mother's death, though three have died since. These were the children: Mary J., wife of Alex. Latimore; Luicinda was the wife of Daniel Tuttle, but is now dead; Jonas, deceased; Rebecca is the wife of J. B. Gavin, the subject; James married Eunice Neff; Elizabeth was the wife of Philip Ulmer, but is now dead; William resides in Whitley county, Indiana; Julia, wife of George Ulmer, superintendent of the Orphans' Home; Joseph; George resides in Kansas; Lewis resides in Pulaski county, Indiana; Samuel resides in Liberty township; John resides in Harrison township. Robert Hedges was three times married, a daughter, Alice, being born to him by his last marriage.

For five years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gavin resided on the Gavin homestead, in the family of his parents, he operating the farm for his father. In 1875 he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides. The place was only partially cleared when, purchased, and in buying it he incurred an indebtedness of one thousand six hundred dollars. Through his industry and good management he paid off the debt within a very short time and purchased eighty acres more, adjoining his farm on the north and unimproved. In 1881 he erected a barn seventy by forty feet, large, commodious and substantial. The following year he added another eighty acres to his already extensive farm, joining it on the west and later he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old home place. He is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of superb farming land, in one body, all well ditched and under cultivation. His three sons have each a portion of this land, which they cultivate, each having a comfortable residence on his portion, with good, substantial barn and outbuildings. In 1889 Mr. Gavin erected for himself and family a beautiful, spacious home of nine rooms, artistically finished and richly furnished. It is such a home as one rarely meets with in the rural districts.

From boyhood J. B. Gavin has devoted his life to farming and stockraising and has clearly demonstrated that a comfortable fortune can be amassed in that business in a few years. When he and his wife began housekeeping for themselves, in 1875, their home was a little two-room structure which it would be a misnomer to term a cottage. They were rich in nothing but health, strength, industry and perseverance. By coupling prudence and economy with other good gifts which nature had bestowed upon them, they have accomplished results that many would believe impossible. The latest assessment rolls of the county show the valuation of their personal property alone to be two thousand one hundred dollars. Mr. Gavin is one of Liberty township's heaviest taxpayers and also the owner of considerable property in Bluffton, the county seat.

To Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gavin eight children have been horn, viz: George M., born May 23, 1871, married Lucy Huffman, and they are the parents of one child, James Frederick; Charles B., born July 29, 1873, married Lydia Bays, resides on part of his father's farm and has four children, Harry, Cecil, George and Garrett; William J., born October 22, 1874, married Anna Howard, resides on part of his father's farm, and has two children, Victoria and Mary; Mary A., born November 25, 1876, is the wife of Benjamin Buckner and they have one child, William J.; Francis F., born June 27, 1879, resides at home with his parents; Minnie and Ninnie, born July 20, 1882; Minnie died July 25, 1882 and Ninnie died September 12, 1887; Theopolis, born April 13, 1888. Mrs. Gavin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an active worker in all religious and charitable work and contributes liberally to every worthy cause. Mr. Gavin is a member of Lodge No. 747, I. O. O. F., at Liberty Center, and is much interested in lodge work. In politics he is a Democrat, and takes a deep interest in the success of his party, wielding an influence which aspirants for office are exceedingly anxious to secure. He is still practically in the prime of life. The weight of the fifty-seven years that he has seen sets lightly on his shoulders and his physical condition would indicate that existence had yet nearly half a century in store for him. Humanity is benefited by such lives as his.