Representative James Kirkland McGavren View All Years
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James Kirkland McGavren
Harrison County
Born in Hardin County, Ohio, December 19, 1846, and with the balance of the family came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1850. He is one of the five sons born to Robert and Rebecca McGavren. His early education was received at the common schools. Later he attended Tabor College, and after completing his schooling, studied law with P. D. Mickel, of Missouri Valley, and was admitted as a member of the Harrison County bar, in the spring of 1869, and practiced law there that summer, but in the autumn of that year removed to Seward, Neb., and became of the first settlers of the town. He homesteaded eighty acres on which he lived three and one-half years, when he disposed of his claim and removed to Missouri Valley. He dropped the practice of law and took up the loan and real estate business, in addition to carrying on his farm work. In 1877 he was elected Mayor of Missouri Valley and re-elected in 1878 and 1879, but resigned before his term of office expired and was appointed County Supervisor in 1879; in the fall was elected to fill the unexpired term, and in 1882 was re-elected Supervisor. In 1889 he was elected as a member of the House, in the Twenty-third General Assembly. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge No. 170, at Missouri Valley, being one of its earliest members. August 5, 1869, he was united in marriage to Elmira Henry, a native of Hardin County, Ohio. Mrs. McGavren passed from the scenes of this life in April, 1874, was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery at old St. John's. Our subject was married to his second wife, Cynthia Deweese, a native of Indiana, January 27, 1876. Not unlike other members of the McCavren family who settled in Harrison County, at an early day our subject has exhibited good business and executive ability, both as a city and county officer, and as a member of the Legislature. He died April 20, 1910.
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