BIOGRAPHY: William H. ERWIN, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/_________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 609-610.

  WILLIAM H. ERWIN, ESQ., McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Oliver 
township, December 24, 1844, and is a son of William and Rosanna (Cunningham) 
Erwin.  His grandparents, Matthew and Isabella (Henry) Erwin, were of County 
Derry, Ireland, and had children:  John;  James;  William;  Mary (Mrs. 
Thompson);  Margaret (Mrs. Matthew Glasgow);  and Martha (Mrs. McCook).  The 
third son, William, who was born November 19, 1794, was brought up in his native 
land by an uncle, receiving his education under private tuition.  Deciding in 
early manhood to seek the wider sphere and more abundant opportunities of the 
western continent, William Erwin sailed from Liverpool June 10, 1813, in the 
ship "Harp", landed in Philadelphia, August 20, and came to Wayne, now Oliver, 
township, on September 6.  He soon found employment on the farm of the Caldwell 
family, at the old Caldwell Hotel, in Granville township.  He was an active and 
enterprising man, who took a hearty and conscientious interest in any work 
entrusted to him.  He became prosperous, and after some time undertook farming 
on his own account in Oliver township, which was his home for the remainder of 
his life.  Besides farming, he was to some extent occupied in executing 
contracts on the turnpike and the Pennsylvania canal.  Although a sexagenarian 
when the war of the Rebellion broke out, Mr. Erwin did not hold himself excused 
by age from rendering what service he could to his adopted country;  and among 
the last actions of his vigorous and useful life was his enlistment in the 
emergency militia, Fourth regiment, Company C.  He was honorably discharged, and 
died November 18, 1862.  He was always zealously interested in public affairs, a 
worthy and patriotic citizen.  At first a Democrat, he afterwards became an 
ardent Republican;  he was several times elected justice of the peace in Oliver 
township.  William Erwin was married about 1825, to Rosanna, daughter of 
Jeremiah and Susanna (Zimmerman) Cunningham, born July 19, 1802.  Of their 
twelve children, seven grew to mature age;  Isabella (Mrs. Franklin Caldwell);  
Mary (Mrs. John S. Bratton);  Annie (Mrs. Samuel Lower);  Margaret (Mrs. Joseph 
Bratton);  Rosannah Matilda;  Hannah (Mrs. Nelson Stein);  and William H.  The 
father, William Erwin, was for about thirty-one years an elder in the 
Presbyterian church at McVeytown.  As father and husband, he was faithful and 
affectionate;  he had many friends, and was highly esteemed.  Mrs. Erwin 
survived him until December 13, 1883.
  William H. Erwin received his education in the common schools.  Scarcely was 
his course of study ended when the war broke out, and the youth of seventeen, 
showing the same spirit manifested by his father, enlisted in Company K, Forty-
ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in the Army of the Potomac until 
October 23, 1864, when he was mustered out at Winchester, Va.  He then 
supplemented his earlier studies by attending the Kishacoquillas Seminary for 
two terms, and the Iron City Business College, Pittsburg, Pa., for one term, at 
the end of which he graduated.  He then turned his attention to farming, taking 
charge of his mother's land until 1869, and continuing in the same occupation on 
his own account until 1885.  In that year, he became a resident of McVeytown, 
and in 1889, took up his abode upon his present homestead.  He has always been 
more or less identified with the affairs of the community, political and 
otherwise.  He was elected justice of the peace in 1892.  He is a comrade of 
Chaplain Thomas Stevenson Post, No. 482, at McVeytown.
  William H. Erwin was married, November 18, 1869, to S. Catharine, daughter of 
Eliel and Mary (Brown) McVey.  Two of their children are deceased:  Eliel McVey, 
died aged seven years;  and an infant daughter.  Those surviving are:  Rose M., 
a graduate of the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancaster county, Pa., 
and at present teaching in Bucks county, Pa.;  Mary B.;  Estella;  William I.;  
and John Guy.  Mr. and Mrs. Erwin are members of the Presbyterian church at 
McVeytown.