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John Abbott Parvin
Muscatine County
Born at Fairfield, New Jersey, November 10, 1807. He was reared on a farm and after acquiring an education taught for several years. In April, 1839, he removed to Iowa, locating at Bloomington. He served four years as clerk of the District Court and in 1850 was elected to the House of the Third General Assembly. Mr. Parvin secured the passage of a bill changing the name of Bloomington to Muscatine. He was an active supporter of the act passed to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors to be drunk on the premises. In 1854 Mr. Parvin was elected mayor of Muscatine. In 1856 he was a delegate to the convention which organized the Republican party of Iowa. In 1857 he was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the State and was an active and influential worker in that notable body. In 1863 he was elected to the State Senate where he served six years. He was one of the authors of the bill providing for the establishment of the State Reform and Industrial School and was a trustee and President of the Board for sixteen years. Mr. Parvin was the first superintendent of the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home. He died on the 16th of March, 1887.
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