Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Irwin, Joseph I. 1824 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 27, 2005, 10:47 am Author: B. F. Bowen p. 164-165 JOSEPH I. IRWIN. Joseph I. Irwin, banker, street railway president and capitalist, of Columbus, Indiana, was born near that city on August 6, 1824, the son of John and Vilinda (Finley) Irwin, both of whom were pioneers of Bartholomew county. The Irwin family comes from the north of Ireland, the progenitor of this branch of the family in America having been Joseph O. Irwin, the grandfather of Joseph I., who came at about the close of the Revolutionary war. He served under General Anthony Wayne in the Indian war in the Northwest territory, after which he settled in Bullitt county, Kentucky, at a point afterwards known as Cave Spring, where John Irwin, father 'of the subject, was born, November 4, 1798, and where he was reared to manhood. In 1820 John Irwin came to Bartholomew county, Indiana, to which part of the state other members of the family had previously removed. On May 24, 1823, he married Vilinda Finley, and in 1836 he removed to Johnson county, Indiana, where he died in 1853. His widow survived until 1882. Joseph I. Irwin was twelve years of age when his parents removed from Bartholomew county to Johnson county. In the latter county he grew to manhood, being reared on the farm and becoming inured to hard work and hardships. But the toil and outdoor life of those early days were of lasting benefit to him, from any point they may be reviewed. Experience taught him the value of industry and application, while the outdoor life imparted to him a constitution which, at his advanced age of seventy-nine years, enables him to look after his manifold interests with the same faculty he did a score of years ago. In June, 1846, Mr. Irwin returned to Columbus and took a position as salesman with Snyder & Alden, dry-goods merchants, with whom he continued until January 1, 1850, when he engaged in merchandising on the southwest corner of Walnut (now Fourth) and Washington streets, in Columbus, and continued his mercantile interests at various locations until 1891. In 1871 Mr. Irwin engaged in the banking business by establishing a private bank, first in connection with his store. A few years later this enterprise had assumed such proportions as to necessitate its separation from other interests, and the present banking house at No. 303 Washington street was opened. Of this institution Mr. Irwin is president, his son, W. G. Irwin, cashier, and Hugh Th. Miller, assistant cashier. Mr. Irwin has always taken an active interest in all measures for the public welfare. He was instrumental in securing to Bartholomew county its present system of turnpike roads and has assisted in the construction of over forty miles of this class of roads since 1866. He has also been active, in the development of a number of the present leading manufacturing enterprises of Columbus, in which he yet retains a monied interest. He has platted and laid out eight additions to the city of Columbus. In 1894 Mr. Irwin, with three other gentlemen, among whom was W. H. Donner, then of Columbus, formed the National Tin Plate Company, which erected a large plant at Anderson, Indiana, and later another one at Monessen, Pennsylvania, which were successfuly operated until they were sold to the American Tin Plate Company, in 1898. In the summer of 1899 Mr. Irwin began the construction of the Indianapolis, Greenwood & Franklin Electric Railway, which line was opened between Indianapolis and Greenwood on January 15, 1900, and was the first interurban road to enter Indianapolis. By June 6, 1901, it had been extended and opened to Franklin and on September 21. I903, was opened to Columbus. The name of the corporation at this time was changed to that of the Indianapolis, Columbus & Southern Traction Company, of which Mr. Irwin is president, W. G. Irwin, vice-president and general manager, and Hugh Th. Miller, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Irwin has always been a staunch Republican in his views. For the greater part of the time from 1862 to 1886 he was chairman of the Republican committee of Bartholomew county. In 1872 and 1884 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention. He has also served at various times as a member of both the state central and state executive committees. In 1866 he was selected a director of the Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans' Home, at Knightstown, serving as such for four years. In 1868 he was chosen a member of the board of directors of the Northwestern Christian University (now Butler University), at Irving--ton, and has served continuously as such to the present time, and in 1871 was elected and served for a year as president of the-board. In 1869 Governor Baker appointed Mr. Irwin one of the managers of the State Reformatory for Women and Children, which position he held until 1874. On August 15, 1850, Mr. Irwin married Harriet C., the daughter of J. H. J. and Amanda (Troutman) Glanton. To this union six children have been born, only two of whom survive, namely: Linnie I., who married Z. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, and William G. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. 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