Irwin, John W.

IRWIN, BUDD, FORBY, HINEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/21/2012 at 10:05:26

1880 History of Poweshiek County Iowa

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP

Page 756

IRWIN, JOHN W.--Section 26, P.O. Verona. His ancestors were from England, and came to this country during the colonial days, and settled in Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather became a general in the Revolutionary War, and died in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1791. His grandfather was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania; was a merchant most of his life; emigrated to Ohio, and lived at Stubenville until his death, March 27, 1850, having attained nearly ninety years. His father (James) was born March 1, 1799, in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he was raised and educated; taught school in Ohio until about 1833; married Elizabeth Budd, and was serving as clerk in the Court of Common Pleas, when he suddenly died in the office, November 9, 1838. His mother was born in New Jersey, and died near Hayesville, Ohio, in 1834. John, the subject of this biography was born, one among three children, November 11, 1830, in Hayesville, Ohio. He was raised in Mansfield, Ohio, where he received his preparatory education, finishing at the Vermillion Institute. He began the study of law at Mansfield, with Judge Brinkerhoff, when eighteen, and at nineteen, commenced learning watchmaking, and followed the jewelry business until 1863, when he went to faming in Mahaska county. He emigrated from Ohio to Bloomington, Illinois, in the winter of 1853, where he remained for two years, when he moved to Oskaloosa, in 1855, where he plied his trade until he commenced farming. He settled upon his present place in the spring of 1864. In September, 1864, he became a member of company C, of the Fourteenth Iowa infantry volunteers, and received his honorable discharge, May 13, 1865. He married, April 19, 1860, Mary E. Forby. Her father (George E.) was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England, June 24, 1796, and came to Albany, New York, with his father's family, in November, 1804. Here he was engaged in the baking business, until he immigraged to this county in March, 1855. He married in Albany, Elizabeth Hiney, a lady of German extraction, who was born in Albany, June 21, 1795. Mrs. Irwin was born to them (one of nine children) in Albany, December 13, 1836. She graduated at the Female Academy of her native city, in 1855, and subsequently taught in the high school at Oskaloosa; she is a lady of native refinement and liberal culture. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin's children are: Lizzie (born September 22, 1863), Jared (born September 30, 1867), Wm. Allen (born December 1, 1869), George Forby (born March 9, 1873) and John Gaylord (born July 30, 1876). Mrs. Irwin is a postmistress at Verona and Mr. Irwin owns a farm of 170 acres, including ten of timber. His farm is in good condition, well stocked.