From the 1912 book Past and Present of Marshall County, Iowa, Volume 2, pages 856-857:

JOHN H. CHINN.
Possessing the amiable traits of the typical North Carolinian and the hospitality of the Southerner, John H. Chinn, one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of Marshall county, is a man whom to know is to respect and admire. His useful and successful career would indicate that he is a man of tact, energy and honesty of purpose. His birth occurred in North Carolina, September 14, 1845. He is the son of John H. and Margaret A. (Cuthrell) Chinn, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Virginia. The maternal grandfather of the subject was Maxmillian Cuthrell, a soldier in the war of 1812, in which he was wounded near Norfolk, Virginia. He settled in North Carolina about 1814, where his death occurred. The subject's father lived on a farm in Davie county, North Carolina. For some time he was in the employ of the government and was an Indian agent, and assisted in removing the Indians from North Carolina to the Indian territory. His death occurred in 1845. His widow, a grand old lady now ninety-two years of age, has survived him over sixty-five years. He was a Whig in politics; his family consisted of four children, one of whom died in infancy. Besides the subject, two daughters are living.

John H. Chinn, Jr., was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. When a boy he clerked in a store, but has made farming his life work. When the great Civil war came on he was loyal to his state and defended the stars and bars in a gallant manner, having enlisted in Company C, Seventeenth Virginia Cavalry, Confederate. This was in 1863 and he served until the close of the conflict. He was a prisoner at Point Lookout, Maryland, for seven months. He was in many of the thickest engagements, and on July 9, 1864, he was wounded severely at Frederick City, Maryland, and for some time was confined in a hospital. He returned home after the war and in 1868 came to Marshall county, Iowa, and worked by the month, then rented land until he got a start. In 1872 he bought eighty acres, to which he has added eighty more, now owning an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is widely known in this part of the county as "East View Stock Farm." He has kept his place well tilled and well improved and he is a breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine. He handles various kinds of good live stock and raises Barred Plymouth Rock poultry. He has a comfortable and neat home and good outbuildings.

Politically, Mr. Chinn is independent and he has ably served his community as road supervisor and school director, for a number of terms. He is one of the progressive men of his community and has an interest in his county's welfare at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Freemasons. He and his family belong to the Methodist church.

Mr. Chinn was married in 1869 to Lydia E. Austin, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 15, 1846, the daughter of Thomas D. and Mary J. Austin, the father a native of Davie county, North Carolina, and the mother a native of Virginia. When young they moved to Ohio and were married there, and in 1864 moved to Marshall county, Iowa, and bought a farm where the subject of this review now resides. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres. Here they became well established and farmed successfully until death claimed them. They are buried at Riverside cemetery, in Marion township. Politically, Mr. Austin was a Republican, and he and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Austin was a local Methodist minister for many years, and he was a member of the Ohio Legislature in 1854, from Clinton county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Chinn the following children have been born: Max Thomas, Minnie Belle, Nellie May, Jennie (deceased), Harry E., Charley C., John A., Mary E. and James B.