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WILLIS IRVIN is classed among the intelligent, keen and thoroughly wide-awake farmers and stock-raisers of Jefferson County, who are contributing so much to its material prosperity. His fine estate of two hundred and eighty acres is pleasantly located on section 23, Moore's Prairie Township, and is one of the model farms in the vicinity, being kept up to the highest point in every respect and supplied with neat and well ordered buildings and every variety of the most approved modern machinery. A native of Hamilton County, this state, our subject was born about four miles from his present residence September 29, 1842. He is the son of R. and Harriet (Allen) Irvin, the former of whom was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and came to Illinois with his parents when a lad of fourteen years. They settled in Hamilton County in 1819, where the grandfather of our subject, who was also a native of the Empire State, was engaged in farming. The father of our subject grew to man's estate in Hamilton County, of which he was a resident for many years, and where his marriage with Miss Allen occurred. He was a well-to-do farmer, and of his family of twelve children, Willis, of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth. They were: Abram, John, Wilfred, Willis, Caroline, Jane, Esther, Julia, Mary, Margaret, Lydia and Ellen. The parents of these children were members of the Baptist Church. They came with their family to Jefferson County twenty years ago and located on Moore's Prairie, where the father died in 1882, and the mother departed this life three, years later. In politics he was a stanch Republican after the formation of that party. The mother of our subject was the daughter of John Allen, a native of Tennessee, who was a soldier in the War of 1812 and met his death in battle. His brother, Willis Allen, while residing in Williamson County, this state, was a member of the United States Senate, and his son, who bears the name of William, is a prominent statesman and politician of this section. He was a Member of Congress for several terms, and is now United States District Judge at Springfield. Willis Irvin, like most of the farmer lads, received his education in the common schools near his home, and has followed the occupation of a farmer all his life with the exception of five winters, when he was engaged in teaching school in this and Hamilton counties. The lady whom he married, April 4, 1869, was Miss Martha Martin, a resident of Jefferson County and the daughter of Thomas and Emeline Martin, old settlers of this section, who were classed among the wealthiest farmers of the county. Mr. Martin was born in White County, this state, but spent the greater part of his life in Jefferson County, where his decease occurred, in Moore's Prairie Township, in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Irvin have had born to them the following children: Emma, Alva and Martin. The wife and mother died in March, 1876, greatlv mourned by a large number of friends. Our subject is a devoted member of the Baptist Church, with which body he has been connected for many years. The Republican party finds in him a most active worker. He is at present holding the position of Supervisor of his township, which office he is filling in a most creditable manner. As before stated, he owns two hundred and eighty acres of fine farming land, which bears all the improvements to be found on a first-class estate.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, IL |
For corrections or additions, please contact me: Sandy Bauer