On the 18th day of January, in the year 1800, Alexander Irvin was born. He was the third child and second son of William and Margaret (Johnson) Irvin, who, at the time of the birth of our subject were residents of Centre county. In the year 1820 Alexander came to Curwensville, where he was employed as clerk in his brother's store, and otherwise engaged in business of various kinds, and acquired a thorough understanding of each in general and in detail.

After a residence of about five years in Curwensville, he moved to the county seat where he engaged in the mercantile business, and also that of a mill-contractor, building mills in various localities throughout the county. The year following that in which he became a resident of Clearfield town (1826), he married Elizabeth, daughter of William Bloom and old and highly respected resident of Pike township.

From this time forward Alexander Irvin was one of the foremost men in the affairs of Clearfield county. In business life he was entirely successful, but unfortunately he possessed not the faculty of retaining that which he made; in social and political life, he made friends and always retained them. He had superior intellect and business qualifications, but they were to him of little avail. The political problems of the day he could grasp and solve to a nicety; his power of foretelling the result of campaign was something remarkable, yet he was never boastful of his abilities in this direction , or accustomed to ridiculous or exaggerated statements.

"He was a man," says the Clearfield Republican," of unassuming manners, but of wonderful personal popularity and thereby vanquished every rival he met on the political battle-field. Although he held numerous public offices, he did not possess the faculty of making money. He was an ardent supporter of the old Whig party and was one of the organizers of the Republican party although never the candidate of the latter. In 1872 he was a delegate to the Cincinnati convention and then supported Mr. Adams; but upon the nomination of Mr. Greeley, he fully endorsed and supported him as a presidential candidate. After the excitement occasioned by his independent movement had passed away, Mr. Irvin returned to the Republican party.

His first appearance in the field of politics was made in the year 1836, when he was elected to the State Senate over Governor Packer, the candidate of the democracy. In 1842, he was elected prothonotary of Clearfield county and in 1846 was the successful Whig candidate for congressional honors, he being the first representative in Congress chosen from Clearfield county. Still later, in 1846 he was appointed United States marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania during the administration of President Taylor.

During His several political holdings Mr. Irvin was never looked upon as an especially brilliant man; he possessed not, or did he claim to possess superior ability as a legislator, nevertheless, his vote could always be found representing the best interests of his constituents and his argument was logical and common-sense.

His success as a politician lay in his popularity with the people and his remarkable power as an organizer in knowing what ought to be done to insure success and then how to do it. After his services as U.S. Marshal had ceased, Mr. Irvin returned to Clearfield where he lived during the rest of his life and where he died on Friday the 20th day of March, 1874, being aged seventy-four years, two months and two days.
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Alexander Irvin was born in Penns Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools of the area and moved to Curwensville in 1820 and to Clearfield, Pennsylvania in 1826. He engaged in mercantile and lumbering pursuits and was the treasurer of Clearfield County from 1828 to 1830.

Irvin was a member of the State senate in 1837 and 1838. He was named the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in 1842. He was the recorder of deeds and register of wills of Clearfield County from 1842 to 1844. He was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 - March 3, 1849). He was not a candidate for renomination. He was a United States marshal for the western district of Pennsylvania from January 17 to September 3, 1850, when he resigned, being succeeded by his brother, William Irvin*. He was named a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1872. He then became engaged in mercantile pursuits at Clearfield until his death in 1874. He was buried in the Reed addition to the Old Graveyard.1848
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A Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Penns Valley, Center County, Pa., January 18, 1800; attended the public schools; moved to Curwensville in 1820 and to Clearfield, Pa., in 1826; engaged in mercantile and lumbering† pursuits; treasurer of Clearfield County 1828-1830; member of the State senate in 1837 and 1838; prothonotary of the court of common pleas in 1842; clerk of the several courts; recorder of deeds and register of wills of Clearfield County 1842-1844; elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); was not a candidate for renomination; United States marshal for the western district of Pennsylvania from January 17 to September 3, 1850, when he resigned, being succeeded by his brother, William Irvin*; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1872; engaged in mercantile pursuits at Clearfield, Clearfield County, Pa., until his death on March 20, 1874; interment in the Reed addition to the Old Graveyard. [Old Clearfield Cemetery, Clearfield, PA]1849
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Alexander Irvin worked in his brother William’s store for a few years before moving to Clearfield in 1825. After marrying Elizabeth Bloom, he became involved in politics. He was elected to Congress in 1846, and he was, therefore, the first representative from Clearfield County. He also served as a state senator, county prothonotary, and U.S. Marshall for the western district of Pennsylvania.1004
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Hon. Alexander Irvin was a man of excellent business capacity and no little political sagacity. After having served as Prothonotary, member of the Legislature, State Senator [1847], he was elected a Representative in Congress and served in 1846-8.930,1850
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Alexander Irwin, was a prominent citizen of Clearfield county in the early times. Mr. Irwin was at different times County Treasurer, State Senator and Representative in the United States Congress.1832
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In February 1946 negotiations were begun for the purchase of the Lemoine Bloom property, the former A. E. Irvin Estate located on River Street adjoining the Old Covered Bridge site. Negotiations were completed and the Home finally purchased on May 8, 1946 by the V. F. W. Home Association. [Robert Ferguson Post No. 842 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Curwensville, PA]

An early cemetery in Clearfield County is situated on this property. There are 13 graves in the cemetery of the very first people who settled Clearfield County and so far as known according to history a small part of these were Indians.1851

An accident, resulting in the death of an individual occurring in Huston township, in March of 1861 at the job of a Hon. A. Irwin is reported in this source.1852
[Is this the same person?]



*NOTE: There is no reference in my records of his brother William (1801-1869) succeeding him as a Representative. Alexander’s brother William was a well-known lumberman in Clearfield county. The link in the Wikipedia article to William Irvin (1779-1842) of Ohio is not Alexander’s brother. This despite the data found in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. I have since edited the inaccurate information from the Wikipedia article.3

†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