from the DAILY TIMES - Wed. Feb. 11, 1891 page 2
OBITUARY NOTICES
At the family residence, three miles south of Palestine, Kosciusko
county, Ind. Mrs. Deacon James Garvin, in the 83rd year of her age, fell
asleep January 30, 1891. She was born March 24, 1808 in Fairfield county,
Ohio. January 18, 1829, she was united in marriage to Mr. James Garvin, by
Elder Sytes, and in the fall of 1835 the family emigrated to Indiana and
settled on his brother's land on Turkey Creek Prairie, where the family
remained for three years. They afterwards settled on a piece of land which
they purchased from the government, and which is near Burket, in Seward
township, where Mr. and Mrs. Garvin have since resided. She was one of the
nine members who constituted the Yellow Creek Baptist church, being baptized
by Father Martin. Afterwards she was connected with the Franklin Baptist
church, which was organized at her own home, and finally joined the
eSevastopol Baptist church, being a consistent member of that church at the
time of her death. She was a pioneer settler of this county, and was the
mother of ten children, four of whom have preceded her to that better land,
two sons and four daughters remaining to mourn their loss; also, nineteen
grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Of the six children, all but
one have made a religious profession; also the greater part of the
grandchildren have given their hearts to God. Mrs. Garvin's religious and
church life extended over a period of about fifty-one years. She was always
ready to do all she could to sustain the Master's cause. As a wife she was
affectionate and kind; as a mother most fond and indulgent; as a friend
steadfast and true; and as a neighbor she was beloved by all; for, in times
of sickness, she had been ever ready to lend a helping hand and minister to
the wants of the poor. Aside from her own family, they raised six orphan
boys, three to manhood. In the last few years of her life she threw off the
cares and anxieties of this world and thought as a child only to be loved.
In her last few days of suffering--for her sickness was of short
duration--her mind went back to the hymns she sung in former years, and she
sang parts of "Come thou fount of every blessing." The funeral services
took place on Sunday morning, February 1, at the Palestine church, Rev.
Bragg of the Sevastopol Baptist church, officiating. The mortal remains
were followed to the grave in the Palestine cemetery by a large company of
mourning relatives and sympathizing friends, where they were deposited to
await the resurrections of the just. "Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labors; and their works do follow them."
[The following additional facts are furnished by another friend of the
deceased-Editor]
The deceased moved to Kosciusko county, Ind. in 1835 and settled on a farm
in what is now Seward township. this part of the county was then almost an
unbroken forest, and for a few years wild beasts, and only a little less
wild Indians were their most frequent visitors, which the following incident
illustrates. William Anderson accidentally shot an Indian with whom he was
hunting, while passing through a thicket of grapevines. Mr. Garvin's cabin
being the nearest, Anderson carried the wounded Indian there. Mr. Garvin,
then acting Justice of Peace, took his ante-mortem statement. Early next
morning a few white men and quite a number of Indians were notified, and by
noon had arrived, among whom was the noted chief Mo-no-quet. After hearing
Anderson's testimony, and explaining to the chief what the Indian had told
him, Mr. Garvin decided that the cause of death was accidental on the part
of Anderson, and according to the request of the chief, that Anderson should
give to the bereft squaw "a fat hog and sack of cornmeal." The decision was
satisfactory to the Indians, and especially so to Anderson. We believe this
to be the first inquest held in the county. "Mother Garvin," as all her
neighbors familiarly called her, was truly a pioneer, enduring all the
hardships and privations of which we know so little to-day, with a cheerful
and contented spirit. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church for
over half a century, often riding twelve miles on horseback to meetings,
which were held in the log cabins of the settlers. Their nearest grist-mill
was at Fort Wayne, and the native forest was scarcely broken where our
beautiful county seat now stands.
respectfully submitted,
Marge Priser
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~kosco