Biography of William J Erwin, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 665

William J. Erwin, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Independence County,
was born in Maury County, Tenn., on October 22, 1833. He is a son of Alexander
K. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Erwin, of the same State. The paternal grandfather
was an early settler of Tennessee, and a soldier in the War of 1812. His son,
Alexander K., was reared in that State, and followed the occupation of a farmer
until the spring of 1840, when he emigrated to Independence County, Ark.,
making the entire journey with his family in wagons. He located in Washington
Township, where he entered a tract of land in the woods, upon which he lived
until 1870, when he moved to Batesville, where he lived up to the time of his
death, in 1872, his wife following him six years later. They were the parents
of seven children, of whom three are still living: William J., Laura, wife of
Dr. D. C. Ewing, and Martha, wife of Clinton McGuire. William J. Erwin was only
seven years of age when his parents arrived in Independence County, and he
remained on the farm until he had reached his maturity, receiving in that time
a fair education. In 1862 he enlisted in McCauley's cavalry company, Seventh
Regiment, and served in that body until the surrender. Mr. Erwin took part in
all the principal engagements west of the Mississippi River, and, although
displaying a recklessness in battle sometimes that was marvelous, he was never
wounded or captured. After the surrender he came home and resumed his work on
the farm, starting in with a determination to make that his business and to be
successful at it. He has never aspired to be a politician, and rather shuns the
notoriety that public office would bring–the only position he would ever
consent to filling being that of judge of election. In 1871 he moved to where
he now resides, within one mile of Batesville, and in 1873 built a fine
residence. He owns altogether about 1,000 acres, and has some 650 acres under
cultivation, of which 550 acres are situated in Oil Trough Bottom, being some
of the most valuable land in that section, and adapted to any growth. Mr. Erwin
raises corn, cotton and hay, also cattle, sheep and hogs. In 1866 he was
married to Miss Cornelia Glenn, by whom he had six children, three of them yet
living: William A., M. E. and Nellie. His wife died after a happy married life
of fourteen years, and he was united to Miss Ida Lipscomb, of Maury County,
Tenn., on June 26, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin are members of the Presbyterian
Church, and the former belongs to the Royal Arch Masons, and in politics is a
Democrat.