OBIT: James A. IRWIN, 1931, Duncansville, Blair County, PA

Contributed 10/30/2004 for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Romayne Shay McMahon

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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_________________________________________ 

JAMES A. IRWIN

  James A. Irwin, Duncansville's lone veteran of the Civil War and last 
survivor of Company H, 110th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under 
Captain Francis H. Cassidy, died at his home, 1024 Fourth Avenue, 
Duncansville, this morning at 2:30 o'clock.  Death was attributed to 
complications.  
  Mr. Irwin was active for one (sic) of his years until recently when 
he was compelled to remain in his home.  he suffered an injury to one 
of his legs many years ago which handicapped him somewhat, but he was 
always interested in community events and always took part in the 
Memorial Day exercises.
  Mr. Irwin was born August 9, 1846, at what was known as Elizabeth 
Furnace, Sabbath Rest Post Office, the son of Archie and Margaret Irwin 
and was one of a family of eight children.  He resided in Blair County 
all his life.
  During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company H, 110th Infantry, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and saw hard service during the closing year 
of the war, participating in the Battle of the Wilderness at Cold 
Harbor, Spotsylvania and others.  Captain Francis Cassidy of Newry was 
Captain of Company H and Mr. Irwin was the last survivor of that famous 
company, made up largely of men from Blair County.
  Following the war, he found employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company and after a few years went with the American Wire and Steel 
Company at their quarries in the vicinity of Ganister.  He retired from 
active work some seventeen years ago and had resided in Duncansville 
for the past eleven years.
  Mr. Irwin was twice married, his first wife having died many years 
ago. His second union was with MISS ELLA SHAY* on October 19, 1886, who 
survives, with nine daughters, two sons, thirty-three grandchildren, 
nine great-grandchildren and one brother, ALEX IRWIN of Altoona.
  He was a member of the Duncansville Lutheran Church and of the 
Williamsburg Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, there being but 
one survivor of that post.
  The body will be taken to the Duncansville Lutheran church on Tuesday 
at Noon where it will lie in state until 2:30 o'clock when services 
will be conducted by the pastor, Rev. G. B. Harman, who will be 
assisted by Rev. L. D. Ott, pastor of the Hicks Memorial Methodist 
Church.  Interment will be made in the Alto-Reste Cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, April 18, 1931

* Ella aka Ellen Shay, daughter of Michael and Maria Conrad Shay