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1890 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Story County, Iowa

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John). The parents of these children were both natives of Lincolnshire, England, and there they received their final summons, the father in 1866, at the age of fifty-five, and the mother at the age of seventy-five years. The latter died on the 25th of September, 1889. Thomas Jarvill received his education in the common and select schools of England, but his inclinations led him to choose the independent life of a farmer as his occupation. He began for himself at the age of twenty-one with limited means, and in the spring of 1869 he sailed for the United States, taking passage on the " City of Paris," and landing at New York City on the 1st of June of that year. He passed the first summer with an Englishman in Waukesha County, Wis., then went from there to Sangamon County, Ill., thence to Peoria, Iowa, where he remained four years, and finally to Story County (Center Grove) about 1873. On the 23d of December, 1875, he married Miss Marie E. Griffith, a native of Ohio, born August 26, 1850, and the third of a family of six children, all residing in Story County: Sarah (married W. K. Woods, a farmer, and resides in Story County), Belle (married William R. Kirk, a farmer, and resides in Nevada), Mrs. Jarvill, John W. (is a farmer, residing in Story County, and married Miss Myra Groseclose), S. P. (married Miss Carrie Chamberlain, and is now engaged in farming in Story County), and Lena (married J. W. Matthews, a farmer, and resides in Story County). Mrs. Jarvill received her education in the common schools, and is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Jarvill is a Republican in his political principles, and his first presidential vote was for James A. Garfield. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an active supporter of all educational and religious enterprises. He is the owner of nearly 293 acres of land, has it nicely improved, and has erected a beautiful residence in Grant Township at a cost of over $2,000.

John W. John, farmer and stock-raiser, Maxwell, Iowa. All his life Mr. John has followed, with substantial results, the occupation to which he was reared and in which he is now engaged—farming. He is justly recognized as one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers, and as a man, no less than a citizen, he is highly esteemed. His birth occurred in Carroll County, Ind., on September 14, 1837, being the son of Bowen and Cynthia A. (Todd) John, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Kentucky. The father moved to Ohio with his parents when a child, grew to manhood near Dayton, and was there married to Miss Todd. After their marriage the parents of our subject moved to Indiana, locating in Carroll County, and there the father tilled the soil for a number of years. In the fall of 1853 he moved to Iowa, located in Wapello County, where he resided for a few years, and then moved to the northeastern part of the State. Subsequently he moved to Story County, where his death occurred about 1878. His wife died in 1861. John W. John was but seventeen years of age when he moved to this State, and he remained at home until his marriage, which took place on March 31, 1861, to Miss Sarah J. Bell, daughter of John J. Bell, one of the first settlers of Nevada. Mrs. John was born in Ohio, and reared principally in Story County, Iowa. After his marriage Mr. John located on a farm near Nevada, where he raised several crops, settling on the farm where he now lives in 1867. He first purchased a small tract, but this he has increased from time to time until he is now the owner of 480 acres, all good tillable land, and he has 320 acres in the home place. He has a large two-story house, good barns, cribs,

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