Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of THE ERWIN FAMILY. This biography was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Greenbrier County J. R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 244-246 THE ERWIN FAMILY. Samuel N. Erwin, present deputy assessor of Greenbrier county, belongs to one of the oldest families in the State. He is of Irish descent and a great-grandson of John Erwin, the first of that name in the county. His son, John Erwin, Jr., was born in a cabin still standing in Irish Corner and now in the possession of the sixth generation, and is now owned by S. N. Erwin. The birth above mentioned occurred in 1785. This place is in Irish Corner district, four miles east of Ronceverte. John Erwin was reared here, and died here after rearing a family of four sons and four daughters. His wife was Miss Jane McClure. The children were: (1)David M., of whom again; (2) John, Jr., who married a daughter of John Robinson, the grandfather of Amos R. Erwin, formerly of this county, but now of Loudoun county, Virginia; (3) Robert, who died young; (4) William, who rode to California on horseback, crossing the Mississippi river at St. Louis on the ice, and died young; (5) Jane, who married Pleasant Williams, of Giles county, Virginia, and died at the age of seventy-four years; (6) Margaret, who married William Black and moved West; (7) Elizabeth H., who married Lewis Sydenstricker in Irish Corner and died at the age of sixty-six; (8) Mary G., who married William White, of Organ Cave. and dicd in 1906 at the age of seventy-nine years. John Erwin was a noted hunter. He had a rifle having a large bore, with which he killed hundreds of deer. It is said he bequeathed this gun, named "Kate," to his descendants who were named John. It is now in the possession of his great-grandson, John A. Erwin, son of Amos R. Erwin, of Loudoun county, Virginia. At his death John Erwin had over a thousand acres of land that was known as "Little Egypt" on account of so much corn being raised on it. He died in 1873 at the age of eighty-eight years. David M. Erwin was born July 4, 1807. In 1836 he married Mary Dickson, daughter of Richard Dickson, of Second Creek, West Virginia, and to this union were born: (1) Susanna J., in 1838; she married James Honaker and died in 1908; (2) Richard D., of whom later; (3) Margaret E., born in 1840 and married William Miller, of Irish Corner. She died in 1908; (4) John A., who died in infancy; (5) Mary V., born in 1845 and died in 1908. She remained single. He died in 1876 from the effects of a stroke of lightning several years before. Hon. Richard D. Erwin was born December 27, 1842. In 1865 he was married to Amanda Fleshman, who at the age of seventy- seven years is still enjoying reasonably good health. By this union were born nine children-five sons and four daughters: (1) Austin B., born November 16, 1866, unmarried. He taught school several years, owned a large library. and was a great reader. For years he suffered from rheumatism, and died September 1, 1914; (2) Ida B., born December 16, 1868. She married Frank Dever, of Grand Island, Neb.; (3) Nellie V. and (4) Andrew D.,. died in infancy of diphtheria; (5) William H., born October 27, 1875, married Estelle Jackson, daughter of A. R. Jackson, of Organ Cave, and died in 1906, leaving a wife and one child; (6) Samuel N., of whom later; (7) Mary E., who was born September 29, i880, unmarried; (8) Annie S., born February 3, 1882. She married Floyd Handley, of Williamsburg; (9) Charles E., born February 16, 1889, married Ethel Humphreys, daughter of Hon. H. W. Humphreys, member of the County Court. He died January 1, 1913, leaving a wife and one child, a daughter. Richard D. Erwin was considered one of the best farmers in Greenbrier county. He was a Confederate soldier and served in Company D, Edgar's Battalion. In 1890 he was chosen by the Democratic party for the State Legislature and elected to the House of Delegates from this county, and re-elected in 1904. He was an elder in the Salem Presbyterian Church from 1875 till his death in 1898. Samuel N. Erwin was born June 27, 1878. In 1900 he was married to Lucille Scott, daughter of Joe H. Scott, formerly of Anthonys Creek, but now living with his son, Humbert J. Scott, near CaIdwell. To this union were horn seven children-five sons and two daughters: Joseph Richard, September 28, 1902; Paul Bryan, January 18, 1904; Olan Kyle, November 1, 1905; Anna Madge, January 31, 1908; Gerald Clayton, April 18, 1909; Bcnnie Idelle, June 5 1912; Donald Leith, January 25, 1915. Mr. Erwin was reared a farmer and is still in pursuit of that avocation. As one of the representative men of Irish Corner, he is an elder in the Presbyterian church at Salem and represents his county as assessor. To this latter office he was elected as deputy with E. B. Miller as chief on November 7, 1916.