 Nevin was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and spent most of his life in the town of Easton.His output consisted mainly of cantatas, and included such works as "The Crown of Life" and "The Incarnation"; he was also known for his setting of Sidney Lanier's poem "A Ballad of Trees and the Master", and wrote a number of hymns as well.For nearly thirty years, he ran a wholesale paper business in addition to composing.