BIO: Ellis IRWIN, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 415 & 416. _____________________________________________________________ ELLIS IRWIN, deceased, for many years one of Goshen township's representative, substantial and esteemed citizens and for several decades postmaster at Lick Run Mills, was born near Bellefonte, Center county, Pa., June 17, 1805. He was of Irish and English ancestry and was reared in the Quaker faith. Ellis Irwin was educated in the Bellefonte Academy and after his marriage moved on a farm in Penn township. He engaged in agricultural pursuits here for four years and then disposed of his land and moved to Curwensville. In 1835 he was appointed prothonotary, register and recorder and clerk of several counties and acceptably performed these duties for three years. He then entered into the mercantile business at Clearfield and in 1846 was appointed postmaster. He also served three years as sheriff and filled out an unexpired term of county prothonotary of one and one-half years. Ellis Irwin was recognized as a man of such sterling character and as one so well qualified for the responsibilities of public office that the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens was unbounded. In 1856 he moved to Lick Run, in Goshen township, and there became associated with his brother, William F. Irwin, in a lumbering business in which he continued his active interest even after passing his three score and ten years. In 1827, Mr. Irwin was married to Hannah Iddings, who died in February, 1881. She was a member of one of the old and respected Quaker families of this section and her parents were John and Ann Iddings. John F. Irwin, son of Ellis and Hannah Irwin, was born February 20, 1829, and obtained his education in the subscription and district schools. In 1862 he enlisted at Curwensville, Pa.; a company of 100 men was enrolled in the U. S. service as Company B, 149th Regt. (Pa.), at Harrisburg, Pa. Mustered in as a private, he was made second lieutenant, was afterward promoted to first lieutenant and took part in seventeen battles, including Gettysburg, where he was appointed adjutant on the evening of the first day's battle. He served subsequently until his honorable discharge July 25, 1865. In November, 1865, he entered into partnership in the drug business with Dr. J. G. Hartswick, but is now associated with his son Ellis in the same business, the son attending to the active part of the business. On May 25, 1866, John F. Irwin was married to Sarah Rheem, of which union was born the son, Ellis, before mentioned. Mr. Irwin is a member of the Methodist church, which he joined in 1873. He resides at No. 305 Second street, Clearfield.