Obituary

From the Raftsman’s Journal, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, 22 Dec 1869.
Death of William Irvin, Esq.

On Sunday evening last, about nine o’clock, William Irvin, of Curwensville, was suddenly seized with severe illness, which resulted [in his death on] Monday morning. He had been ailing for some time, but without any alarming symptoms; and his unexpected demise was a terrible shock, both to his family and the community in which he had so long dwelt

Mr. Irvin was born in Penn’s Valley, Center county, on the first day of December 1801, and hence was 68 years and eighteen days old at the time of his death. About the year 1820, he came to Clearfield county, and located at the mouth of Anderson’s creek, where the borough of Curwensville now stands. Then there were but two houses, but he lived to see it grow up around him into a handsome and thriving town. He engaged in the mercantile business, and for many years owned the only store in that part of the county south of Clearfield. He was an active, prompt, and energetic business man, and was successful in acquiring a competency, with which he unostentatiously relieved the necessities of very many who were less favored in the accumulation this world’s goods – and contributed especially to aid his country during the rebellion. He was indeed a most devoted and ardent friend of the Government. He seem to throw his whole soul into the contest; and he used every effort in his power to promote the success of the loyal arms.

In all the enterprises that contributed to the development of the resources of our county, Mr. Irvin was a liberal contributor. In laying out turnpikes, building bridges, erecting churches, making rail roads, etc. he was ever found among the foremost to give of this means. He was a man of many peculiarities; somewhat difficult to become acquainted with, -- yet possess, under all, of a large warm heart, susceptible of the truest benevolence and the most devoted friendship. His acquirements were many and varied. He had read much and thought more, and underlying the whole was that sterling common sense, which is the most indispensable quality of a successful business man and good citizen.

He left a large family to mourn his loss which will be deeply felt by our whole community. One by one, the old pioneers of our country are falling around us. Soon all will have gone to their “long last home.” Let us so live, that when we follow them there, each of may, like them, leave to our children that most priceless of all legacies, the character of AN HONEST MAN.998
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William Irvin, Sr., was a native of Ireland and came to this country in the year 1789. He married Margaret Johnston by whom he had nine children, William, Jr. being the fourth child and the third son.992
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A pioneer settler of Curwensville [PA], who located there in 1820, was the most extensive lumberman* and merchant in the county in the early days.999
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A John Irvin, and William (then only a boy) are listed among the early settlers of Pike Township Township, Clearfield County, PA at this source.725
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The Irvin and Patton families probably did most for the early and later material prosperity of Curwensville.839
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The Clan Irvine includes all Irish because many Irvines were sent to northern Ireland to establish a foothold for eventual takeover of Ireland. My branch of the family was there in the 17th and 18th century and immigrated back to Scotland during the potato famine and then the two brothers immigrated to America in 1875. This date is after your relatives were already established in Clearfield County. If they came from County Antrim that would certainly establish a close blood bond with my branch of the family and then I could give you more info of the names for family ties in Ireland.1000
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About the year 1820, William Irvin, Jr., as he was then known, came to the mouth of Anderson's Creek, at a point now occupied by the borough of Curwensville. Here his father had purchased a tract of about three hundred and thirty acres of land, built a dam across the West Branch and erected a mill. In the year 1828, William Jr., and John Irvin purchased this mill property from their father and managed it for two years, when in 1830, John bought William's interest. The latter then engaged in the mercantile business, conducting a large general store, and also became an extensive lumberman. His investments were remunerative, and he acquired large means. There being no banking-houses in the vicinity during a greater part of his business life, Mr. Irvin invested his surplus funds in real estate, which brought him handsome returns in later years, and left an exceedingly valuable estate to be divided among his heirs at his decease.

William Irvin is remembered as a man of excellent business qualifications, possessing good judgment, honest in every transaction, correct in his habits, unassuming in manner, and inclined to be conservative, yet generous and enterprising in all that pertained to the welfare of his town, county and its people.

In the various enterprises that contributed to the development and improvement of the county, he was a leader, and gave largely both of his time and means. For the construction of the Tyrone and Clearfield railroad, he contributed liberally and was made one of the directors although he did not live to see the road completed; but his estate contributed twenty thousand dollars after his death in accordance with his wish. Out of his own funds, he caused to be built a brick school house at Curwensville and for a time paid the expenses of its maintenance.

He was a man of broad views on all subjects; possessed a mind capable of grasping large enterprises and conducting them to successful issues; far seeing judgment and a character founded upon principles of justice and integrity. It cannot be said that any good work ever appealed to him in vain; at the same time his best deeds were not done in a manner to draw attention to himself, his chief aim being to be considered one of the staunch business men of the town, an to so order his daily life as to secure the respect and esteem of his townsmen.

All religious organizations received his sympathy and material aid. He was an earnest worker in the political field, on the Republican side, thought never for his own advancement; he never sought an office, and accepted but one, that of United States Marshal of the Western District, but his time and means were always ready for the good of the party, and when the government was threatened with internecine foes, none was more active and liberal in its support than he.

In 1860 Mr. Irvin was succeeded in the mercantile business by his son, Edwin A. Irvin, but in the year following, the latter entered the army and during his absence the father managed the store. Aside from this, Mr. Irvin may be said to have retired from active business in the year 1860 and thereafter and until the time of his death, December 19, 1869, his time was given to the care and management of his estate.

William Irvin, Jr., of whom the above is written was born in Penn's Valley, on the 1st day of December, in the year 1801.

In the year 1830, March 2 William Irvin, Jr. married Jane Patton. The fruit of this marriage was fifteen children, four of whom died in infancy.992
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The next landowners I would like to mention are John P. and William Irvin of Pike Township who purchased the land known as Long Bottom [in Curry Run, PA], which is situated on the south side of the Susquehanna River and is known today [2010] as Nolen’s Bottom. John and William made the purchase from William and Margaret Irvin of Potter Township, Centre County for the price of $6,000 and consisted of 333 acres. This being the land that William of Centre County purchased in 1811 for $2,664 in silver money from William and Ann Smith. The costs involved reflect the price of another tract of land at the mouth of Anderson Creek that containeda house and outbuildings. The purchase of the long bottom was necessary for the later development of the timber industry that the Irvins carried on in the Curry Run area. Land along the river was of significant value in the lumber industry for stacking logs on the river bank until high water made possible the floating of the logs to market. John and William never settled here on this tract but the importance of the Irvin lumber industry makes this a significant part of our history and worthy of mention.1001

William Irvin and his estate. The Irvins were not residents of Lewisville [later Curry Run] but were large owners of timberland surrounding the area. They were one of the most influential families pertaining to the logging industry and helped establish the Curry Run Logging Railroad.... William passed away in Dec. 1869 and his estate was divided among his children.1002
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William Irvin is listed as Postmaster in Curwensville, PA - 8 January 1830 to 20 April 1835, replaced by his brother John.1003
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William Irvin Jr. was a key player in the building of the Tyrone and Curwensville railroad. He was a vital contributor to Curwensville, giving money for a brick schoolhouse, a church, and many other causes.1004
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[William’s father] came from Ireland and located in Penn’s Valley, Centre County. He bought the tract of land south of the river containing 330 acres in 1811. This tract includes Irvin Hill, Eastvue and more. He, William Sr., died in 1830. William Jr. [and his brother John] became owners of this tract. William Jr. seems to have sold his interest in this land to John for his interest in the Curwen tract. The Curwen tract of land is on the northwest side of the Susquehanna.1005
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The town [Curwensville, PA] was named by John Curwen, Sr., of Mongtomery county, who obtained letters patent for about three hundred and fifty acres of land, covering the site of Curwensville, from the State of Pennsylvania in 1798. On this land, Curwen had forty-eight lots laid out about the year 1805, between what are now known as Thompson and Locust Streets. John Curwen left his land to his son, George Curwen, from whom most of it was purchased later (in 1811) by John and William Irvin. Up to the year 1812, not a single building had been erected on the town plot.

On the land opposite the mouth of Anderson Creek William built a dam, said to have been the first on the West Branch, and erected a grist mill.† The Erie Pike [later highway 322] was completed in 1823 or 1824 through the town and brought an increased settlement. In 1845 six lots, two of them corner lots were bought for $60.00.1006
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During the year 1818 William Irvin, Sr., the father of Colonel E. A. Irvin and John Irvin, Sr., the father of Colonel John Irvin, came to Curwensville. Jnlm [sic] Irvin erected a saw-mill, and a grist-mill near the present [1911] site of the Irvin flouring-mill.1007
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William’s father came from Ireland and located in Penn’s Valley, Centre County. He bought the tract of land south of the river containing 330 acres in 1811. This tract includes Irvin Hill, Eastvue and more.

[His sons] John and William Jr. became owners of this tract. William Jr. seems to have sold his interest in this land to John for his interest in the Curwen tract.

The Curwen tract of land is on the northwest side of the Susquehanna.1005
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Realizing the natural advantages of this vicinity for further development of [the] local lumber industry, William and John Irvin came, 1818, as pioneers in this business, and were succeeded within their families by those who bought and sold timberlands in this and nearby counties, and other states.1008
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William Irvin had a store at present [1949] location of Sandri-Lezzer Lumber Co. known as the "Corner Store." John Irvin had a store across from the present John Cometta property and to differentiate from the other Irvin store was known as "On the Hill."1009
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1850 Census: July 1850 - Age 48, Farmer, real estate owned valued at 13,000. A 17 year old female Luisa Wise with her birthplace indicated as Germany is also living in the household [Domestic help?]. All the Irvin children except Alexander attended school within the year. Also listed as neighbors are a 45 year old Eliza Irvin [b. abt 1805] and what is apparently several of her children.846
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In September of 1851, following the incorporation of the Borough of Curwwensville in February of the same year, the first tax assessment was made. At the time Curwensville was a little village lying between Anderson Creek, the Susquehanna River and the present [1959] entrance to Oak Hill Cemetery with a population of 372 persons. The highest assessment, of the four highest named in this source, was William Irvin whose assessment mounted to $985.00. The third highest assessment belonged to John Patton (1823-1897) at $550.00. The entire assessment of the Borough was $15,295.00.860
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William Irvin at his own expense erected the "Brick School-house," on State Street. In 1852 Mr. Irvin rented this to the [Curwensville] Borough.1010
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In 1854 William Irvin built a brick schoolhouse on State street [in Curwensville] and for several years it was used as a private school. Later it was rented by the borough and used for many years as a “High School.” 1011,1012
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Road and turnpike companies were organized and incorporated under an act of the State Legislature and were invariably toll-roads. Many of them were constructed according to their original conception; others were curtailed or modified, and some were abandoned.

The Clearfield Plank Road Company [to create a toll road] was incorporated April 6, 1854, to extend from the terminus of Tuckahoe and Mount Pleasant turnpike, and to intersect the Erie turnpike at any point in the direction of Clearfield or Curwensville. The capital stock was not to exceed four thousand shares at twenty-five dollars each. Named among the incorporators were William Irvin, John Patton and an A. Caldwell.1013
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The Irvin and Patton families probably did most for the early and later material prosperity of Curwensville.839
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Oak Hill Cemetery [where William is buried] in Curwensville, PA began as a small 2 1/4 acre plot in December 1856 when William Irvin conveyed a parcel of land to the Curwensville Borough for burials. Three additional parcels were conveyed by Mr. Irvin’s son Col. E.A. Irvin, and the remainder of the property came from Charles E. Patton and the heirs of Hon. John Patton. The Irvin and Patton families, both of which played key roles in the early growth and development of Curwensville are interred there.879
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In the “Diary” of Curwensville Borough - Incorporated February 3, 1851 there is this entry: “Cemetery lots - $2.50 each - cemetery to be laid out.” [Oak Hill Cemetery?]823
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"By a deed, April 20, 1878, the heirs of William Irvin conveyed to Zachariah McNaul Trustee, for the purpose of a Friends Meeting House [Quaker], a certain lot in the western part of Curwensville on the South side of State Street."1014
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A Henry Irvin, a native of Ireland, came [to Clearfield county] in 1801 and located at a point nearly opposite the mouth of Moose Creek on the Eastern bank of the River, long and familarly known as "Liberty Spring."1015

[Was Henry a relative of William Jr. and the reason William came to the area twenty years later?]
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Headstone photo at this source.982


*The lumber business was the predominant business in Clearfield County from 1840-1890. It was estimated that over 12-billion board feet of lumber was cut during that time. In addition, many tall and straight pine trees were cut for use as spars or ship masts.228

†A gristmill or grist mill is a building in which grain is ground into flour. In many countries these are referred to as corn mills or flour mills.3

Hildred and Caroline Rowles of Curwensville live [2010] in “the home of the Irvins who owned the logging railroad in Curry Run, the hotel, and thousands of acres of tiumberlands within our area.”1016

Hildred Rowles leads walking tours in Curwensville for the Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society there. Per my cousin Cheryl Boal, he and his wife own the Strawberry Tree at 578 State Street in Curwensville. It’s a popular store in the area for finer gifts, candles, homemade rugs amd Victorian decor.1017