LUKE C IRWIN, b 4 Aug 1830

IRWIN, CRAWFORD, BAIRD, STEWART, ALLEN, LINDSEY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/5/2004 at 08:54:53

Luke C. Irwin, proprietor of 280 acres of valuable land on section 11, Perry Township, is one of the early settlers of Jackson County, and, as a man of ability and intelligence, has assisted in its development during his many years of residence here. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born near Mercer, Mercer County, Aug. 4, 1830. His paternal grandfather, Christopher I. Irwin, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Ireland. He emigrated to this country, and, locating in Mercer County, Pa., became one of its pioneers, living there until his death. Luke Irwin, father of our subject, was born in Mercer County, and was there reared and educated. When a young man he took part in the War of 1812, doing valiant service at Lundy's Lane and in other battles. He was a farmer by occupation, and tilled a farm of 110 acres near Mercer until the spring of 1851, when he came to this State and settled in Jackson County.He bought 320 acres of land in Perry Township on section 11, but afterward disposed of one-half of it, and from the other half improved a farm, on which he lived until his death, in 1866, when seventy years of age. In politics he was a Whig and an Abolitionist. He was a man of true Christian piety, and was for many years an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Adams. She was of English descent, born in Mercer County, Pa., and died on the homestead in Perry Township. To her and her husband were born nine children, namely: James, living in Dixon, Neb.; Sarah A., living in Mercer County, Pa.; Christopher, living in Covington, Neb.; L.C.; Simeon, deceased; John, who is living in Cherokee County; Thomas, deceased; Mary, deceased; and Lemuel, who is residing in Bellevue Township. The family was well represented in the late Civil War, four of the sons taking an honorable part in the conflict - Christopher and Simeon enlisting in the 31st Iowa Infantry, the former serving three years, and the latter dying on a boat on the Mississippi River; John and Thomas enlisting in the 9th Iowa Infantry, the former serving until the close of the war, and the latter dying near Pea Ridge, Ark.

The subject of this biographical review was reared in his native county, and obtained his education in the log school-house of that time and place. He received the home training usually given a farmer's son, and remained in Pennsylvania until he was nearly twenty-one, when he accompanied his parents to Iowa. Leaving their native State April 2, 1851, they came by canal to Brown's Point, and there boarded a steamer, which took them to Bellevue. They then came to Perry Township, which was at that time in an incipient state, there being but three houses between here and Bellevue. Our subject remained with his parents some years, and assisted in improving the home farm. In 1856 he bought a tract of land adjoining his father's homestead, and began farming on his own account, clearing and improving his land, and reclaiming a good farm from the forest and prairie. Ten years later he bought the old home farm that had belonged to his father, and here he has since resided. The natural advantages of the place are good, the soil being very fertile and watered by springs, and our subject has put up a windmill and tank, and has continually added to the improvements already made, now having his farm well fenced and under excellent cultivation. He has a substantial dwelling, the main part being 28x22 feet, with two wings, 16x18 feet and 18x14 feet respectively, and has erected good barns and outbuildings. Mr. Irwin is much interested in the rearing of stock, his cattle and hogs being of a fine grade, and his horses, fourteen in number, being of the justly celebrated Norman breed.

Mr. Irwin has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, to whom he was united in Perry Township Feb. 21, 1855, was Hannah Crawford. Her parents, Adam and Mary (Baird) Crawford, were natives, respectively, of Lawrence County, Pa., and Ireland. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and removed from Pennsylvania to Jackson County, Iowa, and bought a farm in Perry Township, which he carried on several years, his death subsequently occurring in Andrew. Mrs. Irwin was born during the residence of her parents in Lawrence County, Pa., June 28, 1827, and died in Perry Township Sept. 10, 1884. She bore her husband eight children - Thomas, Edwin, Mary A., Charles C., Albert H., Theodore L., Martha B., and John F. Mary is the wife of William Beller, a carpenter and farmer near Marcus, Cherokee Co., Iowa. Theodore is farming near Bellevue. The others are at home. Mr. Irwin was again wedded, April 5, 1888, in Lawrence County, Pa., taking for a wife Mrs. Margaret S. Allen, daughter of Samuel Stewart. Mr. Stewart was a blacksmith in Lawrence County, Pa., and spent his entire life in that State, dying at the venerable age of eighty-four years. He married Jane Lindsey a native of Ireland, who is now living in Lawrence County at an advanced age. Both the paternal grandather of Mrs. Irwin, Robert Stewart, and the maternal grandfather, John Lindsey, were born in Ireland, and emigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Irwin was the eldest of the eight children born to her parents, her birth having occurred in Mt. Jackson, Pa., Aug. 26, 1837. She was reared to womanhood under the parental roof, receiving very good school advantages and a practical training in domestic affairs. November 4, 1858, she was united in marriage with Mr. J.C. Allen. He was a native of Wilmington, Pa., and in early life learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years, and then engaged in farming in Lawrence County, where his death occurred in 1886. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Allen two children were born - Jennie, who died when eighteen years of age, and James, who is employed in the iron works in St. Joseph, Mo.

Mr. Irwin is classed by his fellow-citizens as one of the public-spirited and representative men of the township, and by his decision of character, integrity and true worth has won the confidence and esteem of his community, which he has served in various official capacities with fidelity, having been Supervisor of Roads, Township Trustee three years, and having served several terms as one of the School Directors. In politics he is a strong Republican, gives his cordial support to the party, contributes generously to campaign expenses, and after the election of Harrison to the Presidency allowed his friends to select one of his finest beeves for the barbecue and jollification at Andrew. Religiously, he is a valued member of the Presbyterian Church.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)