BIO: Daniel Pontius IRWIN, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ 312 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. DANIEL PONTIUS IRWIN is an enterprising merchant of Julian, Centre county, whose systematic methods, executive ability and sound judgment, combined with energy and industry, have made him one of the substantial citizens of Huston township. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Union county, December 10, 1818, and for many years he has been identified with the commercial interests of Centre county. John Irwin, father of our subject, was also born in this State, of English parentage, his father coming to this country from England before the Revolutionary war, in which struggle he aided the Colonies, and died from the effects of wounds received. In Union county, Penn., John Irwin married Catherine Pontius, also a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of Andrew and Dorothy Pontius, who spent their entire lives in Union county. Her paternal grandparents were of German birth, and were among the earliest settlers of that county. In 1835, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin came to Centre county, where he engaged in farming until 1850, when they migrated to Fayette county, Iowa, he carrying on agricultural pursuits there until his death, which occurred in 1864, when he was aged eighty-one years. The mother died at West Union, Fayette county, in 1867, at the age of seventy-one. Their six children were as follows: Andrew, a farmer, who died in Centre county, Penn.; James, a farmer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he died; John, a deceased farmer of Iowa; Daniel P., subject of this sketch; Rachel, deceased wife of Hon. P. F. Sturgis, a banker of Iowa, who represented his district in the Legislature; and Louis, who died in Iowa. The boyhood of our subject was spent in Union county, he attending the public schools and assisting in the labors of the farm until sixteen years of age, when he began serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which business he followed for five years. He next engaged in clerking in a mercantile establishment in Bellefonte, Penn., where he remained for several years, and later was in partnership with John B. Awl in the same business. Subsequently he was bookkeeper for the Washington Iron Co. for a few years, and then again clerked in a store at Bellefonte. Still later he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Milesburg, Penn., until 1860, when he went to West Union, Iowa, where for three years he served as bookkeeper. In 1863 he located at Julian, Penn., becoming railroad station agent and conducting a general store, in partnership with T. E. Griest, which connection continued for two years. He then purchased his partner's interest, at the same time giving up the station, and has since successfully conducted his store alone. On February 8, 1859, Mr. Irwin was united in marriage with Miss Eliza G. Underwood, and nine children blessed their union: John, born January 4, 1860, died January 12, 1861; Clara M., born May 2, 1862, died July 29, 1862; William U., born July 9, 1863, is a prominent physician of Julian; Edwin P., born October 28, 1865, is a hardware merchant of Tyrone, Penn.; Louis C., born August 9, 1869, is engaged in the same business in Bellefonte; Catharine Alvina, born April 17, 1872, is at home; James B., born April 9, 1875, died September 25, 1882; and Alfred T., born December 23, 1877, and Charles A., born December 1, 1880, are both at home. Mrs. Irwin was born in Milesburg, Penn., October 28, 1839, and is the third child in the family of Dr. William and Alvina (Griest) Underwood, the others being as follows: Amanda, deceased wife of Benjamin Rich, also deceased; Phoebe J., deceased wife of Leander Griest; Joseph, deceased; Newton, a lumber merchant of Elizabeth City, N.C.; and Hannah Alvina, deceased wife of John G. Greenleaf, of Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. William Underwood was born in York county, Penn., October 7, 1811, and during his mature years engaged in the practice of medicine at Unionville, Penn. He was also an extensive lumber merchant, and built the plank roads from Unionville to Tyrone, and from Julian over the mountains to Beaver Mills, at a cost of $50,000. He was one of the prominent and representative business men of this section, was largely interested in the milling company at Beaver Mills, and was the first president of the Bald Eagle Valley railroad. For many years he was a preacher in the Society of Friends. In Adams county, Penn., Dr. Underwood married Alvina Griest, a native of that county, born 7th mo. 15th, 1812, died 3d mo. 31st, 1853, and he later married her sister, Lorana Griest, who was born in the same county, in 1826. One daughter was born to them: Ida, wife of Emmerson Bosworth, a railroad man of Buffalo, New York. Politically, Mr. Irwin affiliates with the Democratic party, and for three years he served as postmaster at Julian, while for six years he was a member of the school board. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian; socially he has for many years been a member of the I. O. O. F. He is liberal in his support of every worthy enterprise for the good of the community, is public-spirited and progressive, and has the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.