My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN M. GLAVIN, a prominent horticulturist and able civil engineer, located upon his valuable homestead adjacent to New Buffalo, Berrien County, Mich., built the first division of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad and the narrow gauge to Berrien Springs. Our subject has held many important positions of official trust and is widely known as a man of business ability and extended experience. Mr. Glavin was born in the County of Limerick, Ireland, March 25, 1833. His parents were natives of the Emerald Isle and descended from a long line of honest, hard-working ancestry. The father and mother, Edmund and Hanora (O’Keefe) Glavin, spent their entire lives in the country of their nativity. The father, by occupation a farmer, died when John M. was but seven years of age. The mother survived many years, living to the advanced age of eighty-seven. Our subject, the seventh in a large family of twelve children, remained in Ireland until he was nineteen years old. Educated in the common schools of his native land, he grew up a manly, ambitious lad, full of energy and hope for the future. His mother was a woman of strong character and realized the necessity of fitting her children well for the battle of life. She therefore gave to each of her sons and daughters every possible advantage for instruction.

When our subject was about sixteen years of age he went to Dublin, and for three years and a-half devoted his time entirely to the study of mathematics and civil engineering, and having with honor completed a thorough course of instruction, with the approval of his mother decided to try his fortunes in the United States. Bidding adieu to his family and friends of childhood, Mr. Glavin embarked for America and, safely landing upon our hospitable shores, soon found his way to the Western metropolis, Chicago. In this latter city he remained one year and was during the twelve months connected with the Western Tablet, a Catholic paper edited by James and John F.Valentine. His next employment was as Assistant Civil Engineer for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company on the Air Line from Goshen, Ind., to Ligonier. He worked for the corporation during 1852, and later filled the same position with the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, now the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee. In the year 1856, Mr. Glavin purchased land in Chikaming Township, and began farming in Berrien County, from the first achieving success in the pursuit of agricultural duties.

In 1864, our subject removed to his present locality, where he bought the one hundred acre homestead he now owns, and which is pleasantly located three miles northeast of New Buffalo. Twenty acres of the highly improved and valuable farm are devoted to the exclusive culture of berries, and aside from fruit the broad acres yield annually an abundant harvest of golden grain. In 1856, John M. Glavin and Miss Ellen Scanlon were united in marriage. Mrs. Glavin, a native of Scotland, came to the United States with her parents when about three years of age. Her father was a railroad contractor and a man of position and influence. A goodly family of twelve children blessed the home of our subject and his estimable wife. Mary, the eldest, married E. H. McCarten; Clara, Lillie and Alice are deceased; Ella, the wife of J. G. Strachan, resides near Chicago; Emma is the widow of E. T. Jacobus; Eva is a school teacher; John, Grace, Thomas, Morris (deceased), and Frederick complete the list. Mrs. Glavin is a devout member of the Catholic Church. The sons and daughters, enjoying excellent educational opportunities, are all occupying positions of usefulness and are worthy and influential young men and women.

Our subject is politically a Republican and cast his first vote for Fremont many years ago. Mr. Glavin has always been active in politics, and, highly esteemed while in Chikaming Township, was elected to the office of Supervisor. In 1867, after making his home in New Buffalo Township, he was elected to the State Legislature as Representative by the largest vote ever given a candidate in said district. In 1876, he was elected County Surveyor, holding the position for six consecutive years. Our subject was also Constructing Engineer on the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad in the years 1867 and 1868. Continuously occupying public, official and business positions, the career of Mr. Glavin as an executive officer and business man has been distinguished by thorough efficiency in the manner and methods of work, supplemented by good judgment and integrity of character. As a legislator he was a member of important committees, and ever did full justice to the wishes of his constituents. In the township offices he materially aided in the advancement of local interests, and it is safe to say no other citizen of Berrien County can show a more faithful record of work accomplished in thirty-five years of citizenship.