Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 830
FRANK M. IRVIN

Frank M. IRVIN, a farmer residing on section 17, Union Township, has been a resident of Harrison County since April 20, 1863, and will form the subject of this biographical notice.

He was born in Alabama on January 3, 1887 [as printed in bio], and is the son of William and Martha (ATWOOD) IRVIN, the former a native of Virginia and the latter a native of Georgia. Their children were as follows: Milton V., Sylvanus H., deceased; Ansel W., deceased; Addison M., deceased; Elizabeth P., deceased; Isaiah C., deceased; Mary T., Frank M., and Harriet A. Our subject's father died when he was about ten years of age, his mother having died three years prior to that time. After the death of his father, he went to learn the carriagemaker's trade, with Sarven Brothers, with whom he remained four years. He then worked at his trade two years elsewhere, after which he commenced to work at his trade for himself, and followed this business until the black war-cloud of the Rebellion darkened the peaceful horizon. When the mutterings of Civil War shook the foundations of the great Republic, he suspended business and came to Chicago, where he remained one year, and then went to Rock Island, where he worked at his trade eight months. From that point he went to Council Bluffs, but shortly afterwards came to Harrison County.

One of the most important events of this man's life occurred December 2, 1867, when be was united in marriage to Amanda V. DICKINSON, the daughter of Richard and Saphrona DICKINSON, natives of Kentucky and Ohio, respectively. They were the parents of four children: William H., James W., Amanda V., Isaiah H. Mr. and Mrs. IRVIN are the parents of one child, Saphrona, born September 22, 1868.

Mr. and Mrs. IRVIN are both acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belonging at Harris Grove, where they assisted in erecting a new church in 1890.

Upon coming to Harrison County, our subject worked at the carpenter's trade, by the month, for about four years. When he came here he did not have enough money to pay his lodging over night, but by "shoving the jack plane" early and late, he earned a span of colts, which he traded to William TOWNSEND for ninety-three acres of land in St. John's Township, paying $4 per acre. He gave the colts and $50 in cash for the land. He made substantial improvements on this place, including good buildings and a rail fence, which he mauled out himself, from native timber cut upon a ten-acre lot in Calhoun Township. He remained upon this place ten years, sold out and bought the place he now occupies, which then consisted of one hundred and forty-five acres of wild land. This he improved, provided good buildings and an orchard of four hundred trees.

In 1864 he enlisted from LaGrange Township, as a member of the Third Iowa Battery, and went to Little Rock, Ark. He was in the service about fourteen months, but was in no regular engagements, and received an honorable discharge.

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