Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 219
J. B. IRWIN, a leading farmer of Montpelier Township, Muscatine County, residing on section 7, was born on the 9th of September, 1826, in Allegheny County, Pa., and is a son of David and Elizabeth ( Chambers ) Irwin. When sixteen years of age, during the fall of 1842, he left his home and started for Illinois, but when attempting to cross the Ohio River he found that it was frozen up, and was compelled to remain in Kentucky during the winter. As the journey could not be completed, his father rented a farm, and planted and harvested a crop the next season. In the spring of 1844 he again started for Illinois, going by way of Cairo and the Mississippi River to Galena, where he made his home for a short time, and then continued his journey to Davenport, Iowa. This was his first introduction to the State which for almost forty-five years has been his home. Remaining in Davenport for a year, he then came to Muscatine County, where he has since been engaged in farming. Seven years after reaching Iowa, in 1851 his father departed this life, being then fifty-two years of age. Of this family there were nine children namely: Eliza J., who was born Feb. 13,1825; J.B., born Sept, 9, 1826; Jared, born Oct. 6, 1828, Mary H., born March 22, 1830; John N., born Nov. 30, 1831; William D., born Aug.20, 1833; Samuel, born April 15, 1835; Henry H., born Nov. 1, 1836; and Rebecca, born Jan. 2, 1840. Three brothers of that family, W.D., Samuel and Henry were all defenders of their country during the late war, having enlisted in 1862, in the 35th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of hostilities.

On the 24th of November, 1854, Mr. Irwin was united in marriage with Catherine Gettert, and to them were born five children : William, born Dec.13, 1855, died Sept. 7, 1856; Emma, born Nov. 13, 1857; Mary, born July 29, 1859; John A., born Oct. 7, 1861;and Clara, born Nov. 26, 1863. In the month of June, 1865, Mr. Irwin was called upon to mourn the death of his wife. He was again married, becoming the husband of Isabel Cummings, and this union was blessed with eight children: Martha J., born May 15, 1866;Charles H., born Dec.17, 1867; James L., born Aug. 6, 1869; Isabella, born July 29, 1871, died when fourteen months old; Anna H., born Nov.22,1873; Eddie D., born Oct.11, 1875; Amanda, born Feb. 4, 1877; and Ida C., born Nov. 22, 1881. Since the year 1865 Mr. Irwin has cast his vote with the Democratic party. He is one of the highly respected citizens of the county, where he has resided for about forty-five years.

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