Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Erwin, William July 24, 1854 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 19, 2006, 1:44 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     That circumstances have much to do with the life of a man has been

abundantly demonstrated in every period of the world’s history from its dawn. 

But that they have not unlimited sway has also often been proven and finds a new

illustration in the career of William Erwin, of Routt county, whose home is in

the neighborhood of Hayden and who came to Colorado twenty-four years ago

empty-handed and is now a citizen of consequence, with a comfortable esteem

which he has won from hard conditions by his own persevering industry and

business capacity.  Circumstances were not in his favor but he commanded them to

his service and has made even his adversities minister to his progress.  Mr.

Erwin is a native of Union county, Ohio, born near the town of Milford on his

father’s farm, on July 24, 1854.  He received only a common-school education,

being obliged from an early age to take his place and keep it in the ranks of

those who were doing the work of the farm.  He is the son of Robert and Eva

Erwin, natives of Ohio.  The mother died in her native state in 1861, and since

then the father has lived in that state, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and the

territory of Oklahoma, where he now resides.  He has followed farming during the

greater part of his life.  During the Civil war he served in defense of the

Union as a member of an Ohio infantry regiment.  He is a Republican in political

belief, and a man of influence where he lives.  The family comprised two

daughters and one son, Amanda (Mrs. Sipes), Lola (Mrs. William Hutchinson) and

William.  From 1863 to 1869 William lived at Albany, Illinois, with his father,

and after that for some years in Monroe county, Iowa, from where he moved with

the family to Missouri.  In 1876 he became a resident of Colorado, and after a

short stay at Denver, moved to Rollinsville, in what is now Gilpin county. He

did not remain there long, however, but soon after went to Boulder county and

then to Gunnison county.  In these various places he was occupied in making ties

for the railroads, ranch work and prospecting.  Two years of his time he passed

in New Mexico, prospecting and mining, with alternate success and failure.  In

1882 he located on his present ranch on Bear river.  This comprises one hundred

and ten acres and yields good crops of hay, grain and vegetables, but horses,

cattle and hay are his chief products.  He made the improvements on his land and

redeemed it wholly from the waste.  He was also an important factor in the

improvement and development of the neighborhood, helping to build all its

ditches, roads and bridges, and its schoolhouses and other public buildings.  In

all he has borne his share of the labor and care with manliness and cheerfulness

and given the force of an excellent example to others.  Politically he is a

Republican and fraternally an Odd Fellow.  On November 11, 1887, he united in

marriage with Miss J.D. Adair, a daughter of W.C. Adair, of McMinn county,

Tennessee.  They have had six children, of whom Floyd and Grace have died and

Mattie V., Alva E., Howard and Mabel are living, well liked by all who know them.

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/erwin139gbs.txt

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