John I. Nevin
1837 - 1884
BiographyJohn I. Nevin was a Pittsburgh newspaper editor and served as a Major for the 93rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers during the United States Civil War. Nevin was born on August 22, 1837 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania to Reverend Daniel E. and Margaret Nevin. He studied in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and graduated from Jefferson College. Nevin worked as a teacher for two years until the Civil War broke out in 1861. He enlisted in the Union Army and was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company G of the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers Regiment under General Geary. After being captured by Confederate soldiers near Harper's Ferry on February 29, 1862, he became a prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia and later Salisbury Prison in North Carolina. Nevin was released as part of a prisoner exchange six months later and recruited and led the Independent Battery H, also known as John I. Nevin's Battery, under General Morrell. After resigning his commission in February of 1863, Nevin was promoted to Major of the 93rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Regiment in April of 1863 under General Hooker and commanded the Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg. Nevin's last commission was as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 93rd Regiment in 1864, earned in large part as a result of his bravery at the Battle of Cedar Creek. In 1864, he was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia. Upon the completion of the war, Nevin spent three years in Utah and Montana, then came back east to become the editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1868 and of the Pittsburgh Leader in 1870. Nevin was elected president of the Leader and served in that capacity until his death. In 1873, he married Eleanor H. Hawes and had two sons and two daughters. Nevin died in his home in Sewickley on January 5, 1884.
