A native of Belmont county, Ohio, where he was born March 7, 1883. His early life was spent on his father's farm and his education was received in the district schools of the county. On August 30, 1861, he enlisted in company E 15th Ohio infantry, serving as a non-commissioned officer. He was honorably discharged on January 12, 1865. In the fall of that year he came west to Tama county and for a number of years was engaged in teaching during the winter months and farming in Columbia township the balance of the year. During the term of 1874, he represented Tama county in the legislature, having been elected on the anti-monopoly ticket. He held other positions of trust, among them that of U. S. Indian Agent to the Sac and Fox Indians. In every position to which he was called he gave the public the best of himself, his probity, honor and spirit of idealism being widely recognized. On January 30, 1868, he was joined wedlock with Miss Anna E. Hutchison, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Malin was for many. years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.