Irwin, Emmor E.

IRWIN, BALES, BOHLANDER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/31/2009 at 11:31:33

Irwin, Emmor E.

Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such belief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight and it sometimes seems that modesty is a sin with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable exception is the case of Emmor E. Irwin, well known business man of Colfax, Jasper County, who seems to possess just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold; and as a result of these well and happily blended qualities, Mr. Irwin has won a host of friends throughout the locality of which this history deals, being well known to all classes as a man of influence, integrity and business ability.
Mr. Irwin was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, January 13, 1859, and he is the son of Robert and Mary (Bales) Irwin, both born in Belmont County, Ohio, where they were reared and married. The father was a clerk in Ohio, but upon coming to Des Moines County, Iowa, in 1855 or 1856, he turned his attention to farming, having located on one hundred and sixty acres, twelve miles west of Burlington. He soon had a good farm, and there he continued to reside until 1865, when he moved to Tama, and that was his home until his death, about 1912, his wife having preceded him to the grave two or three years previously. They were an excellent old couple and could claim hosts of friends wherever they were known. There were six children in their family, Emmor E. Irwin, of this sketch, who was named after his maternal grandfather, Emmor Bales, a native of Ohio, received his education in the public schools of Tama County, which he attended during the winter months, working on the home farm in the summer-time, but he seemed to have a natural bent toward the business world, so he started in the mercantile business at Adel, Iowa, and in 1887 he moved to Oswalt, Jasper County, where he continued to run a store for four years with his usual success; then, in 1891, he came to Colfax and established a meat business which he conducted for five years, enjoying an extensive patronage. His next venture was in the Livery business, which he carried on for three years. Then in 1907 he was elected County Recorder, which office he filled two years, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Returning from the County seat to Colfax when his term of office had expired, he became manager of the Colfax Lumber Company, which position he still holds, his business ability and straightforward dealings with the company's numerous customers having done much to further the prestige of the same.

Mr. Irwin, in his fraternal relations, is a member of Riverside Lodge No. 389, blue lodge of Masons, Gebal Chapter No. 87, and the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Irwin was married on July 1, 1887, to Anna Bohlander, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Peter Bohlander and wife, old settlers here and a splendid family. To the subject and wife one child has been born, Clarence E, a graduate of the Colfax high school and now a teacher in the public schools of this city. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 666.