Erastus R Irving,

IRVING

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/11/2009 at 16:29:45

Erastus R Irving, A farm of 240 acres is the visible evidence of the life of industry and enterprise which Erastus R Irving has led. He is living on Sec 5, Colfax township, and the width of half the continent separates him from his birthplace. He was born in Washington county, New York November 1, 1830 and is of English lineage. His father, Adam Irving was born in England and there remained until sixteen year of age when as a soldier in the British service he went to Canada and on leaving the Dominion he removed to New York, locating in Washington county., There he was united in marriage to Rhoby English, who was also of English lineage, although the family had been founded in America in very early days, her first ancestors in this country coming across the Atlantic in the Mayflower. Mr Irving, the father of our subject as a tailor by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his active business career. In the 40’s her removed to Illinois, settling near Belvidere in Boone, county, where he resided for a number of years and then went to Minnesota. He spent his last years with his sons in Boone, county and long survived his wife, who died in New York in 1842.
Erastus R Irving was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity and at the usual age entered the public schools, acquiring a good English education. For on term he engaged in teaching school in Benton county, Iowa. In 1854 he had made his way westward to the Mississippi, locating in Boone county, Illinois. There he rented land and carried on farming, and in that county he was united in marriage in November 1858, to Nancy M Burton, a native of Dutchess county, New York, and a daughter of John Burton who o leaving the Empire state made his way to Boone county, Illinois, in the 30’s becoming one of the first residents of that locality. The young couple began their domestic life upon the rented farm in Boone, which was their home for two y3ars and in 1857 they came to Iowa, settling first in Benton county. Soon afterward, however, Mr Irving went to Minnesota, where he remained until the fall of that year and then again took up his abode in Benton county, where he engaged in teaching school during the winter of 1857-58. In the spring of the latter year he again went to Minnesota, where he engaged in farming through the summer and in the autumn returned to Boone county, Illinois. There he engaged in farming until 1865, when he once more sought a home in Iowa and during that year raised a crop in Boone county. In the spring of 1866 he came to this county and purchased 90 acres of land on Sec 1, Worth township, which was then raw prairie on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but soon the track of the plow could be seen across the fields which were fenced and cultivated .After two years there Mr Irving sold that property and purchased 160 acres on Sec 7 Colfax township. This he broke and improved, planed a very large orchard and a walnut grove and developed a fine farm. Subsequently he purchased where he now reside, becoming the owner of 240 acres of improved land. He now has a ice grove upon the place, a neat and substantial residence and in the rear stands good barns and outbuildings, furnishing shelter for gran and stock. This is one of the best improved farms in Colfax township and is an indication of the lie of industry and enterprise which Mr Irving has led.
Mr Irving has served his township as justice of the peace, discharging his duties with fairness and impartiality, and also the office of tow clerk, He has served as a delegate to numerous conventions of the Republican party, and takes a deep interest in promoting its growth and insuring its success. His first presidential ballot was cast for John C Fremont in 1856, and he also voted for Lincoln and Grant, supporting the latter of his first election. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and take a deep interest in the moral development of the community. Mr Irving is a citizen of worth who has cooperated in many movements of the general good. His own life record is a creditable and honorable one and the success he has achieved has come to him as the direct result of his own energy and capable management. When he started out in life he had no influential friends to assist him and no inheritance to give him a start, but with strong purpose and laudable ambition he has worked his way steadily upward to the plane of affluence.

1902 Boone County History Book