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Hon William Swan Garvin
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biography
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HON. WILLIAM SWAN
GARVIN, the veteran editor of
the Western Press for so many years, was born in Mercer, Penn.,
June 25, 1806, his parents being John and Agnes Garvin, who had removed
from Cumberland County to Mercer, and occupied a tract of land along
Garvin’s Run, immediately north of Mercer, their house standing near
what is now known as Griffith’s Spring. John Garvin, the paternal
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of Scotch-Irish descent,
migrating from the north of Ireland to this country prior to the
Revolutionary War, and taking the oath of allegiance to Pennsylvania
October 14, 1777, in Cumberland County. William’s scholastic
advantages were limited to a few months’ attendance in the village
school at Mercer, and yet his life-long work was a school. Though he
knew not a noun from an adjective, he wrote the most vigorous and
accurate English. At the Age of fourteen he entered the Western Press
office, then owned by Jacob Herrington, as an apprentice, and served
faithfully nearly six years. Following this, he went to New York, and
thence to New Orleans as a printer. Returning to New York he accepted
the foremanship of the New York Albion, where he remained until
his return to Mercer in 1830 to take charge of the Western Press, which
he had meanwhile purchased from John Hogs and others. While in New York
City Mr. Garvin was married to Miss Annie Hoyt Lockwood. From this union
the following children were born: Annie Hoyt, afterward Mrs. James
Hazelton; Agnes Swan, subsequently Mrs. Judge John Trunkey, wife of the
late associate justice of the State of Pennsylvania, whose biographical
sketch will be found elsewhere; Sarah Lockwood, afterward Mrs. Nesbitt,
John G., Edwin Laughlin Garvin, now living near Oberlin, Ohio; Julia
Olmstead, William Swan and David Wilmot. Of this number the only ones
living are Mrs. Judge John Trunkey, Edwin L. and David Wilmot, of
Florida. Mr. Garvin’s power was shown in his career as editor of the Western
Press, which he owned and managed, with brief interruptions, for
more than half a century. For the particulars as to the changes through
which it passed, the reader is referred to the chapter on "The
Press." As a political writer he was vigorous, fearless and
incisive, ever maintaining to the utmost of his ability the principles
of the Democratic party, with which he was identified throughout his
long life. His power was felt as a journalistic leader of his party, not
only in the politics of the county but of the State. A strict adherent
of the principles of Jeffersonianism, he did not hesitate to proclaim
his faith everywhere and under most trying circumstances. He never
retreated from his foe, but fought the battle vigorously until it was
properly ended. He was a student of the constitution, and practically
accepted and defended the political doctrine of State’s rights as
constitutional. In 1845 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress,
his opponent being the Hon. John J. Pearson. Though the district was
largely Whig, it was carried by Mr. Garvin by a small majority. He
represented his district with ability and credit both to himself and his
constituents. He was twice postmaster of Mercer, first in 1837 during
the administration of Van Buren, and next during the administration of
Andrew Johnson, 1865-69. He was also flour inspector of Pittsburgh under
Gov. Packer. Mr. Garvin was the close and intimate friend of Gen. Simon
Cameron, Hon. Benjamin H. Brewster and Judge Wilmot. Though separated
politically in later years from Cameron and Brewster by reason of their
affiliation with the Republican party, no interruption of personal
friendship ever ensued. He was conspicuous in Pennsylvania as an
opponent of James Buchanan’s nomination for the Presidency, and more
than once was instrumental in preventing it by withholding a portion of
the State delegation from Buchanan’s support. Personally Mr. Garvin
was a kind man, though at times he appeared to some gruff and
unsociable. Afflicted for years with disease that impaired his health
and soured his disposition, he was most kindly and lovingly appreciated
by those who best knew his natural kindness of heart and temper. As an
infant he was taken into the membership of the United Presbyterian
Church, or its antecedent, the Associate Reformed, but at the time of
his death he was identified with the Protestant Episcopal Church. His
death occurred on the 20th of February, 1883, in the seventy-seventh
year of his age. His remains rest quietly in the Mercer cemetery. History of Mercer County, 1888, pages
665-666 |
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