David A. Calvin ¹²

  General Notes:

The Calvin family is familiar to all who have lived in Howard county and
the surrounding country, and the gentleman whose name heads this personal
history is widely known as one of the very earliest pioneers of that part
of Nebraska. He has seen every change which has come to his vicinity and
in its progress has been an important factor, doing fully as much in
bringing about its present prosperity as any other one man in the county.
David A. Calvin was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on February 27,
1837, and made that locality his home until he was seventeen years of
age. There were eight children in his parent's family, he being next to
the youngest, and of this large family but himself and one sister survive.
He left home in 1854 going into Illinois, where he followed farm work for
about seven years, and was married there to Miss Mary Jones, in Adams
county, she being a native of Indiana, their marriage occurring on New
Year's Day, 1861. Two children were born to them in Illinois, and in the
spring of 1865 the little family moved to Iowa, settling in Polk County
and spending about seven years in the state. They then started by wagon
train to Nebraska, and while on this trip were overtaken by the terrible
April storm, which will be remembered by many of the old-timers in Iowa
and Nebraska. However, they finally landed in Howard County after a
tiresome and tedious journey, and Mr. Calvin filed on a homestead in
section thirty, township eleven, range twelve, and still has this
homestead in his possession.
There he went through every form of pioneer existence, meeting with
discouragements and failures of every description, but stuck to the home
and farm, and finally succeeded in making of it a valuable property,
constantly adding to its acreage until he became proprietor of a large
tract, all of which he has improved with good buildings, well stocked,
etc.
Some little time ago Mr. Calvin retired from active farm work, and
settled in St. Paul, where he enjoys a comfortable home and the family
have many warm friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin have had nine children, the four youngest being
native Nebraskans. One child was lost by death, while the remaining eight
are as follows: George, Mary Olive, Emeline, James Wilbert, Richard E.,
Lois, Curtis and John, all married and living in different parts of
Nebraska, excepting Emeline, who is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 15 Jun 1880, Cotesfield, Howard, Nebraska, USA. ³²⁸ 110, 115 CALVIN, David, age 40, born Pennsylvania, farmer
CALVIN, Mary, wife, 38, born Indianna, father Indianna, mother Indianna
CALVIN, George, son, 18, born Illinois, Penn, Indianna
CALVIN, Mary O., dau, 17, born Illinois, Penn, Indianna
CALVIN, Emeline, dau, 15, born Illinois, Penn, Indianna
CALVIN, R. Edward, son, 13 born Iowa, Penn, Indianna
CALVIN, J. Wilber, son, 10, born Nebraska, Penn, Indianna
CALVIN, Louisa, dau, 3, born Nebraska, Penn, Indianna

• Census, 4 Jun 1900, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. ³²⁹ 105/109 CALVIN, David, head, Feb 1837, age 63, married 39 years, born Penn., father N.J., mother Penn., landlord
CALVIN, Mary, wife, Sep 1842, age 57, married 39 years, mother of 9, 8 living, born Indianna, parents born Indianna
CALVIN, John, son, Apr 1881, age 19, single, born Nebraska, father Penn., mother Indianna, farm hand

• Census, 15 Apr 1910, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. ³³⁰ 1/1 CALVIN, David A., head, 72, marriage 1, 50 years, born Penn., father N.J., mother Penn.
CALVIN, Mary A., wife, 66, marriage 1, 50 years, mother of 8, 8 living, born Indianna, parents born Indianna

David married Mary Jones on 1 Jan 1861 in Adams County, Illinois. (Mary Jones was born in Sep 1842 in Indiana ³²⁸.)