Bio:Wiiliam R. Irvin, Mount Carmel, Schuylkill County, PA

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WILLIAM R. IRVIN, furniture dealer and undertaker at Mount Carmel, is one of 
the leading men in  his line of business in this section of Pennsylvania. He has owned 
his fine store in the borough since 1906, and previous to that for several years was 
in partnership with his father in the same establishment, so though but a young man he 
has had long and valuable experience and is well fitted to conduct the business along 
the most approved lines. 

Mr. Irvin's grandfather was born in England and on coming to America settled at 
Wilmington, Del.  Richard B. Irvin, his father, located at Centralia, 
Columbia Co., Pa., where he was employed at the mines for a time. Later he came to 
Mount Carmel, where he learned cabinet making, and in 1870 he engaged in business
as a cabinet maker at what is now the corner of Oak and Avenue streets. There he 
constructed the first two hearses he built the first a very crude affair, the second a 
substantial vehicle which his son still uses in making long trips. 

Mr. Irvin continued to be active in the business until he sold out to his son in 1906 
and retired, now making his home at Germantown, Philadelphia. He married Ellen Wier. 

William R. Irvin was born Aug. 8, 1877, at Mount Carmel and received his education 
at that place, graduating from the high school in 1896. He then entered the Pittsburg College 
of Embalming, where he remained for a year, fitting himself thoroughly for his life work. 
Returning to Mount Carmel he was his father's assistant from that time, in 1897 becoming 
a partner in the business, which, as previously stated, he bought from his father in 1906. 
His fine store, located at Nos. 29-31 North Oak street, has a larger stock of furniture than 
any other establishment of the kind between Williamsport and Reading, and he does the 
largest furniture business in his part of the state. His goods are up-to-date and of high 
quality, and his patrons appreciate the fact that they can obtain as desirable a selection, 
at reasonable expenditure, as the stores in the larger cities afford. Like his father, 
Mr. Irvin takes a pride in making his house a synonym for the best of everything in 
the furniture and undertaking line, and his efforts have been rewarded with a class 
and volume of trade creditable alike to him and to the community in which his business 
is carried on. 

Mr. Irvin married Gertrude Davis, of Shamokin, this county, and to them have been 
born three children: William D., Margaret and Richard. 

Socially Mr. Irvin belongs to the Elks, the Odd Fellows (and Rebekah degree), the 
P.O.S. of A. and the Masons, in the latter connection holding membership in 
Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 378, F. & A.M., Griscomb Chapter, R.A.M., 
and Prince of Peace Chapter, of Ashland, Pennsylvania.