Charles Hood IRVING was born on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 1820 (some say 1818), Newtownsteward, County Tyrone, Ireland. His ancestors were from the Bonshaw Castle IRVING/IRWIN Clan in Scotland. Charles emigrated in 1840, first to Philadelphia, then walked to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked on the construction of the Capitol Building. In 1848, Charles married Mary Jane PUGH.

Mary Jane PUGH was born August 16, 1822, Oswestry, Montgomeryshire, Wales (now in England) where the PUGH name seems to have been first used. Mary Jane's family lived there for over 800 years, the PUGH surname being one of the oldest and most revered surnames in Wales. The PUGH surname preceded the Norman Conquest of 1066. Prior to this, the PUGH family helped fight the Saxons. The PUGHS owned a good amount of land which included manor houses and were considered nobility of Wales, decending from the great Welsh Chieftan Caldwallader AP Jeval, King of Wales (d. 984). They were seated in Llanerchydol primarily and also at Carmarthen at Manor Avon and Llandilo and at Ty Gwyn.

An early immigrant to America was James PUGH, arriving in Virginia, 1654.

Mary Jane PUGH emigrated in 1840 (some say 1842) to New York, then to Columbus, Ohio. There are 4 versions of her emigration.

1. That she came alone. (This seems most likely due to sources, in 1840).

2. That she came with her brother.

3. That she came with her father.

4. That she came with her father and brother.

Mary Jane often spoke of a half-brother William as being quite intelligent. She also spoke of a cousin Evan EVANS.

She was a devout Presbyterian and walked 5 miles each way from the family farm (which was later owned by John and Carrie TRIGGS and is still occupied by their grandson Kevin, I believe) to the Presbyterian Church in Mount Ayr every Sunday. She carried her good shoes for church and walked in her work shoes.

Charles Hood and Mary Jane (PUGH) IRVING moved to Richland County, Illinois, in 1860, then, in 1865, to Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Charles, who had been born on New Year's Eve, died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1893, of a heart attack in the family home. Mary Jane, who had been quite ill with pneumonia, died 15 days later on January 8, 1894. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Mary Jane's Obituary

Charles Hood and Mary Jane (PUGH) IRVING were the parents of 10 children, one who died in infancy.

1. Unknown Baby IRVING - no year
2. Mary IRVING, born 1848, Ohio; died around 1860
3. Sarah Jane IRVING, born 22nd March, 1851, Columbus, OH; died 11th August, 1911, Mount Ayr, IA
    married 1st September, 1875 Luther Caleb LAY (1841-1933)
 :   Sarah Jane (IRVING) and Luther Caleb LAY were the parents of 9 children:
      1. Mary (LAY) PARKER
      2. Oveda LAY
      3. Homer Luther LAY, b. 05 Aug 1879; d. 10 Oct 1969
          married Anna Elizabeth PRATT (1879-1969)
          Children:
            1. Blanche Elizabeth LAY, b. 1916; d. 1916
            2. Wilbur Lee LAY, b. 1912; d. 1983
              married 17 Apr 1938 Madelyn Bessie KEPLINGER (1915-1995)
              Children:
               1. Kenneth LAY
               2. Robert Lee LAY (1940-2009)
               3. Paul LAY
               4. Linda LAY
               5. Mary Lynette LAY
      4. Abner Lee LAY
      5. Corwin Turner LAY
      6. Joseph "Joe" LAY
      7. Luella May LAY, b. 19 Sep 1887, Mount Ayr IA; d. 14 Jul 1951, Mount Ayr IA
          married Sep 1917 Erick ANDERSON, b. 1873, Sweden; d. 1915
          Luella and Erick interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
            daughter Jane (ANDERSON) DUFFIELD DeVRIES, pictured at right
      8. John LAY
      9. Sari LAY, died at age 3

4. Dorcas Rebecca IRVING, b. 9th March, 1853; d. 1934
    married Thomas Pringle HENDERSON (1850-1890)
    Dorcas and Thomas were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
    Dorcas Rebecca (IRVING) and Thomas Pringle HENDERSON were the parents of 3 children:
      1. Ora HENDERSON
      2. Maud HENDERSON
      3. Charles HENDERSON
5. Martha "Alice" IRVING, b. 15th February, 1855, Ohio; d. 29 Nov 1935
    married 1888 William J. FIFE (1861-1923)
    It is believed Fife's Grove Park was named for them.
    Martha Alice and William were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr IA
    Martha Alice (IRVING) and William J. FIFE were the parents of 2 children:
      1. Unnamed Baby FIFE
      2. Arthur FIFE
6. John A. IRVING, b. 13th February, 1857, Ohio; still alive at aged 73 years in 1930
    married circa 1895, Ringgold Co. IA Victoria BASTOW
    John A. and Victoria (BASTOW) were the parents of 3 sons:
      1. Ned IRVING
      2. George IRVING
      3. John IRVING
7. Joseph L. IRVING, b. 26th November, 1859, Ohio; d. circa 1950
    married around 1900 Nellie PRICE
    Joseph L. and Nellie (PRICE) were the parents of 4 children:
      1. Hugh IRVING
      2. Florence IRVING
      3. Sewell IRVING
      4. Joseph IRVING
8. Samuel Crozier IRVING, b. 19th July, 1861 in Illinois; d. 7th June, 1934 in Rogers Park, IL
    married Mary (?) - no date; no children listed
Samuel attended Parsons College and became a High School Teacher around 1890. He then taught Greek at the Hastings, NE Presbyterian College, 1891. In 1893, he entered University of IA Law School and received his JD in 1896, whereupon they moved to Chicago, IL where he practiced law for many years.

9. George W. IRVING, b. around 1864 in Illinois; d. circa 1950
    married around 1910 Esther Belle Etta McMINN
    George W. and Esther Bella Etta (McMINN) IRVING were the parents of 3 children
      1. Mary IRVING
      2. Alice IRVING, married David ALLEN
      3. Emma IRVING
10. Emma Rose IRVING, b. 27th September, 1868 in IA; d. 1939
      married 1899 Archiblad FRASER; no children listed

The Charles and Mary IRVING Family Home
near Mount Ayr, Iowa

NOTE: Anna Elizbeth (PRATT) LAY, Madelyn (KEPLINGER) LAY, Blanche Elizabeth LAY, Homer Luther LAY, and Wilbur Lee LAY were interred at Hickory Grove Cemetery, Middle Fork Township of Ringgold County, Iowa.

Submitted by Carla J. DeVries with contributions by Mary Lay Stephenson, April of 2010