BIOGRAPHY: John GWIN, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 431-3
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JOHN GWIN, senior member of the firm of Gwin & Sons, coal operators of 
Mountaindale, this county, is a son of James Maxwell and Elizabeth (Forchey) 
Gwin, and was born near Kittanning Point, Blair county, then Huntingdon county, 
Pennsylvania, December 17, 1831. His grandfather, John Gwin, was a native of 
Scotland, whence he emigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary War. He 
was a soldier in the Revolution and served throughout the entire struggle, 
participating in some of the most decisive battles. At the close of the war, he 
located near Kittanning Point, being one of the early settlers and a pioneer 
farmer. Having cleared a large farm, he remained there, following the pursuits 
of a farmer, until quite an old man. He spent the latter part of his life with a 
son, Alexander Gwin, who lived near Altoona, Pennsylvania. His marriage resulted 
in the birth of the following children: Lewis, Daniel, John, Alexander, James 
Maxwell, Douglas, Mary and Mrs. Nancy Glasgow. He died at the age of eighty-
eight years.
     James Maxwell Gwin, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born on 
the old homestead near Kittanning Point, in Blair county, and died near his 
birthplace. He was a school teacher, shoemaker and farmer, and at one time 
followed wagoning, hauling goods from Philadelphia to Pittsburg on the old 
national pike. In politics, he was an old-line Whig, and was a member of the 
Baptist church. He married Miss Elizabeth Forchey, a daughter of William 
Forchey, of Blair county, who still survives him, aged eighty-five years. Their 
marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: John Gwin; Nancy, who 
has been twice married; her first marriage was with John Norm, who was killed in 
the late War of the Rebellion; her second marital union was with William C. 
Hollen, of Ashville, Pennsylvania; and James Alexander, who was a member of the 
Seventy-Sixth regiment, Keystone Zouaves, serving through the Civil War.
     John Gwin, Sr., whose name heads this sketch, was educated in the old 
subscription schools of Blair county. Being reared a farmer boy; he has followed 
farming all his life in connection with other business pursuits. Until 1860 he 
resided on the homestead farm, but in the latter year purchased his present farm 
of one hundred and twenty-five acres of woodland adjoining the pretty little 
village of Mountaindale, on the Pittsburg and North Western railroad, in Reach 
township, this county, which he has since cleared and improved and he now 
possesses one of the most desirable and best improved farms in the township. 
From 1865 to 1868, he sold farming implements, selling the first mowing machine 
and thresher ever sold in Cambria county. For seven years he was successfully 
engaged in the mercantile business in Mountaindale, and in 1884, in partnership 
with his son, Luther M., under the firm name of Gwin & Son, opened the Eagle 
mines at Mountaindale, which they still operate. Recently the above firm has 
opened and is successfully operating a mine at New Washington, Clearfield 
county, Pennsylvania.
     He is an active and consistent member of the Baptist church, holding the 
trusted position of president in the board of trustees and for a number of years 
has been deacon in the above organization. He is a member of Mountaindale Camp, 
No. 56, P. O. S. of A., and is also prominently identified with the Mountaindale 
Grange, No. 1086, P. of H.
     On February 22, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Miller, a 
daughter of John Miller, one of the pioneer farmers of Cambria county. This 
marital union has resulted in the birth of ten children: Margaret Elizabeth, the 
wife of David Mulhollen, of Mountaindale; James Hampson, deceased; Nancy, the 
wife of John H. Franklin, of Mountaindale; Sarah Ida, deceased; Luther M., 
manager of Gwin & Son Coal company; John H., weigh-master; Crawford Blair, 
Thomas V., Mary Martha, the wife of William McCartney, of Mountaindale, and 
Annie Rachel, at home.