Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 361
EDWIN ERVIN

Edwin ERVIN, came to Harrison County, June 22, 1856, and located on section 36, of Jefferson Township, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he lived until the spring of 1862, and then moved to his present place on section 35.

Mr. ERVIN was born in Washington County, Ind., May 4, 1824. His parents were Robert and Isabella (McNIGHT) ERVIN, who reared a family of ten children, our subject being the fourth. The father was a farmer, and died in Indiana April 12, 1866. His birthplace was in Kentucky, the date being April 25, 1797. His wife is also a native of Kentucky, born April 28, 1797, and died in Indiana.

Our subject remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He worked out by the month, chopping wood and clearing up timber land, for which he received $7.00 per month. In 1845 he purchased eighty acres of land in Howard County, Ind., which he sold the following spring, and in June of that year enlisted in the Unites States Army as a Mexican soldier, serving until the spring of 1847, when he was discharged in Mattimaurice, Mexico, and then returned home, purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Howard County, which later on he sold, and purchased a farm in Cass County, in the State of Indiana, which he sold in the spring of 1856, and came to Harrison County, Iowa. He came overland with two horse teams and four yoke of oxen. Notwithstanding this journey was made over trackless prairies and unbridged streams, it will always be remembered by our subject as one of the most enjoyable trips he ever made. Within his "Prairie Schooner" might have been seen a happy family, wending their way Westward, like the Star of Empire, in search of a new home in the West.

Our subject was united in marriage February 1, 1849, to Catharine (RIDER) RIGGLE, daughter of David and Mary Ann RIGGLE. She was born in Ohio, November 20, 1829, and is the youngest child of a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.

Mr. and Mrs. ERVIN are the parents of three children: Mary E., born April 2, 1850; William E., December 2, 1855. Died June 16, 1858; and an infant son, born May 14, 1861, died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. ERVIN affiliates with the Republican party. He stands high in the community in which he has resided for so many years.

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