Guy Ellis Sabin was born the first child and only son of Albert S. Sabin and Sarah Ellis Sabin of Naperville, Illinois.  As his sister, Mary's memoirs reflect, he was much beloved in the Sabin family. 

     Guy was in the first class to attend the newly relocated Northwestern College to Naperville, Illinois in 1871.  He maintained a diary during his college years and for several years beyond, and his writings give a charming picture of a young man finding his way through college, his social life, and romance.

     He met my great-grandmother, Nannie Leila Sevier, at Northwestern.  She was living with her aunt and uncle, Rev. John W. Cunningham and Elizabeth Sevier Cunningham.  Dr. Cunningham was minister at the time of the Congregationalist Church in Naperville.  Nannie was the only daughter of a doctor in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

     After Nannie's graduation from Northwestern College in 1875, she returned home to Jonesborough.  We have many love letters from Guy to Nannie during that year of separation when he worked for the law firm of Samuel Kerr in Chicago.  They were finally married in Jonesborough in 1876.

     The family moved from Illinois to Michigan where their first child,  Albert Sevier Sabin, was born in 1877.  During the next ten years, they lived in Michigan, Minnesota, and South Dakota.  In 1887 they were making plans to relocate to Nannie's hometown of Jonesborough, Tennessee, and hoped to encourage the rest of the Sabin family to follow.

     The entire family visited a portrait studio in Chicago in 1887, where they had portraits made of Sarah Ellis Sabin, Guy Ellis and Nannie Sevier Sabin, and their four children.

Bert, Guy, Mabel & Will Sabin

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Naperville Sun:

Death of Guy Sabin

        On last Thursday morning a message came to friends in this village of the death of Guy Sabin, a former resident of Naperville, but late of Jonesborough, Tennessee.  But the fact was not fully realized until Saturday morning, when Mrs. N. C. Knickerbacker received a letter from Mrs. S. J. Rhea, who is at present in Jonesborough, visiting her mother.

        The following extract confirming the sad death, may be of interest to his, and his wife's many friends in this village:

    "Dear Cousin- You probably have heard by telegram of the death of Mr. Guy Sabin.  I know your heart is here and you are mourning the sad intelligence.  I wish you were here to help and comfort us;  but there is nothing now to do.  The noble, manly form lies in the parlor in a beautiful casket, natural as if asleep, friends and neighbors come and go, and look with sympathy of the beloved face, and every man, woman, and child as they go out must whisper in their hearts, 'He died for us.'  In the other room is Nannie with the children, bathed in tears...

    "Between two and three o'clock this Wednesday morning the courthouse bell rang and the sky was lurid with a great fire.  In the spring Mr. Sabin had organized a Fire Company and bought an engine, and when the bell rang, he arose, and told his boys to lie still and be good boys, until Papa came back.

    "As Mr. Sabin was always leader in every good effort to benefit his neighbors, he ascended the ridge of an adjoining house to protect it, and fell to the ground, breaking his neck and dying instantly, a painless and glorious release for him and an abundant entrance.  But oh, for the wife and children, how hard!  how terrible!  Mr. Sabin was the very rarest and noblest specimen of Christian manhood in every respect, he leaves a fragrant memory, many friends, and no enemies."

    Guy Sabin, having been born in this village, and living here from childhood to manhood, will be remembered by most of us.  The teachers and former students of North-Western College will remember him as being one of their number for three years or over, and whosoever was fortunate enough to form his acquaintance will remember him as a young man of high, moral principles;  having always a good word and pleasant greeting for every one.  His Christian manhood, his love for the Master and His cause, his love for his fellow men, whether high or low, rich or poor, white or black, made him their firm friend.

    He leaves a widow and five children.  His wife was Miss Nannie Sevier of Jonesborough, Tenn.  She was a niece of the late Rev. J. W. Cunningham, and a graduate of North-Western College.  She was a worthy woman and has met with an overwhelming loss.

"On Wednesday morning, September 5th, 1888, Jonesboro was aroused by the alarm of fire. Soon the amateur fire company, organized last winter, was in motion, but their captain, Guy Ellis Sabin, reached the scene of the fire before them. The burning building was found to be the residence of William Shaw, and the fire had gotten such headway that it was impossible to check it. Mr. Sabin, thinking that the residence of Mrs. Caleb Babb, near the burning house, was in danger, quickly mounted it and was with others engaged in pouring water on the roof when he fell headlong to the ground, dislocating his neck and dying instantly. The announcement to the already excited citizens that Mr. Sabin was dead, struck them dumb. But oh! how terrible the news to his family from whom he had just gone out with the cherry word, "Don't be anxious about me, I'll be back directly."

The oldest child and only son in a family of six children, Mr. Sabin was born in Naperville, Illinois, October 12th, 1853, and was consequently at death nearing the thirty-fifth year of his age.

He professed religion and joined the eighth Presbyterian church of Chicago the 4th of July, 1875. On moving to Jonesboro his membership was transferred to the church at this place. Mr. Sabin lived a few years at Gary, Dakota, and about a year ago returned to Jonesboro with the expectation of making this his permanent home.

On the 13th of September 1876, he was married to Miss Nannie L. Sevier, daughter of the late Wm. R. Sevier, who is now left with five little children.

Mr. Sabin took a classical and scientific course in the North Western College at Naperville, Illinois, and studied law in Chicago. Since his return to Jonesboro one year ago, has been the partner of our fellow citizen Judge S.J. Kirkpatrick.

Mr. Sabin was in the very best sense a MAN, a generous, noble, strong, symetrical MAN. His integrity was irreproachable. The strength of the man was harmoniously blended with a gentleness, a sociability, a kind helpfulness that made him attractive and popular. He was a true, warm-hearted friend.

What he was in his own home and family, none can tell but those most sorely bereaved. Aged parents in Illinois weep over the untimely death of an only and most dutiful son. As a husband and father, he was always tender, considerate and helpful. Though having much office work to do, he was always painstaking in caring for his wife and children. Just a short time before his death, he remarked that his highest ambition for his children was to make them good and useful members of society..."

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     “The funeral service of Mr. Sabin was very sad.  The fire company met at the engine house and marched in file to Mr. Sabin’s residence, and from thence, followed his corpse to the Second Presbyterian church, where Rev. C. A. Duncan, assisted by Revs. T. B. Russell, and N. Bachman, preached the funeral sermon, after which Col. Duncan gave an address on behalf of the fire company of which Mr. Sabin was captain.  Then it was announced that the services would be concluded at the graveyard.  Although the day was very inclement, the audience was by far the largest that ever attended a funeral service before in Jonesboro. And, not only by the death of Mr. Sabin has the community lost one of its best citizens, but the church to which he belonged has lost one of its best stays and one of its most faithful workers.”