Mays Family Tree - Person Sheet
Birth Date2 Apr 1845
Birth PlacePennsylvania, USA
OccupationLumberman
FatherWilliam IRVIN Jr. (1801-1869)
MotherJane PATTON (1812-1881)
Misc. Notes
From 1830 to 1840 we find names of several who operated extensively, many of whom have become permanent residents of the county. John and William Irvin lumbered* on lands about Curwensville [PA].3302
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[John’s father] William passed away in Dec. 1869 and his estate was divided among his children. Lots 1 and 2 [of Lewistown, now Curry Run, PA] were inherited by John P. Irvin…. James and Lyseneous Frampton† who owned a farm in neighboring Penn Twp purchased a contract with the Irvins and became proprietors of ther [Curry Run] hotel in 1870, but the Irvin Estate held the title to the land and building. The Framptons remained propreitors until 1879, but in 1877, the hotel ownership changed hands. John P. Irvin had inherited the hotel from his father, William. In 1877, the hotel … was put up for sheriff sale. On Sept. 4, 1877, Willaim Betts and his wife, who was Maragaret Irvin, were the highest bidders of $156. William and Margaret Betts were then the owners and retained the Framptons as proprietors of the hotel until 1879 when the Betts purchased the contract from the Framptons for $25. William Betts sold the hotel … to Leavy and Co. on Jan. 20, 1881. Leavy and Co. operated the hotel as a boarding house for their lumbermen untiul they had their timber within the area cut and shipped to market.3303
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Previous to 1872 the [Clearfield] county seat enjoyed the honor of publishing the only newspapers in this county. But during the summer of that year a stock company, the members of which included John P. Irvin (as a publisher) [and other notable citizens] was formed for the purpose of founding a weekly newspaper, in Curwensville. This paper was called the “Clearfield County Times.”
The “Times” proved a great success as a strong Republican paper during the Grant-Greeley campaign. After several changes in its ownership in 1885 the “Times” was renamed “The Curwensville Herald.” But in a year’s time the “Herald” abruptly ceased to be published.863
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A John Irvin is identified as one of the directors at the organization of the Curwensville Cemetery Company (Oak Hill Cemetery), 28 November 1893.672
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In Curwensville John Irvin and Brothers had a grist mill‡ across the river (toward Irvin Hill). The mill, which was burned about 1912 or 1914, may have been the second mill on the location. John Irvin and Brothers also had another mill on this side of the river (Sandri-Lezzer) which later was bought by E. A. Irvin and Fred J. Dyer and known as the Fred J. Dyer Milling Company.769
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James MOORE, James YOUNG, Mark JORDON and John IRVIN, Sr., the father of Colonel E. A. IRVIN and John IRVIN erected a sawmill and a gristmill† near the present [1887] site of the IRVIN flour mill.3296
*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
†James and Lyseneous were husband and wife.3292
‡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
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[John’s father] William passed away in Dec. 1869 and his estate was divided among his children. Lots 1 and 2 [of Lewistown, now Curry Run, PA] were inherited by John P. Irvin…. James and Lyseneous Frampton† who owned a farm in neighboring Penn Twp purchased a contract with the Irvins and became proprietors of ther [Curry Run] hotel in 1870, but the Irvin Estate held the title to the land and building. The Framptons remained propreitors until 1879, but in 1877, the hotel ownership changed hands. John P. Irvin had inherited the hotel from his father, William. In 1877, the hotel … was put up for sheriff sale. On Sept. 4, 1877, Willaim Betts and his wife, who was Maragaret Irvin, were the highest bidders of $156. William and Margaret Betts were then the owners and retained the Framptons as proprietors of the hotel until 1879 when the Betts purchased the contract from the Framptons for $25. William Betts sold the hotel … to Leavy and Co. on Jan. 20, 1881. Leavy and Co. operated the hotel as a boarding house for their lumbermen untiul they had their timber within the area cut and shipped to market.3303
____________
Previous to 1872 the [Clearfield] county seat enjoyed the honor of publishing the only newspapers in this county. But during the summer of that year a stock company, the members of which included John P. Irvin (as a publisher) [and other notable citizens] was formed for the purpose of founding a weekly newspaper, in Curwensville. This paper was called the “Clearfield County Times.”
The “Times” proved a great success as a strong Republican paper during the Grant-Greeley campaign. After several changes in its ownership in 1885 the “Times” was renamed “The Curwensville Herald.” But in a year’s time the “Herald” abruptly ceased to be published.863
____________
A John Irvin is identified as one of the directors at the organization of the Curwensville Cemetery Company (Oak Hill Cemetery), 28 November 1893.672
____________
In Curwensville John Irvin and Brothers had a grist mill‡ across the river (toward Irvin Hill). The mill, which was burned about 1912 or 1914, may have been the second mill on the location. John Irvin and Brothers also had another mill on this side of the river (Sandri-Lezzer) which later was bought by E. A. Irvin and Fred J. Dyer and known as the Fred J. Dyer Milling Company.769
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James MOORE, James YOUNG, Mark JORDON and John IRVIN, Sr., the father of Colonel E. A. IRVIN and John IRVIN erected a sawmill and a gristmill† near the present [1887] site of the IRVIN flour mill.3296
*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
†James and Lyseneous were husband and wife.3292
‡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