Post by David Sechrest on May 31, 2006 14:03:40 GMT -5
From the book, Illustrated Historical Atlas Of Bartholomew County, Indiana, 1879:
Joseph I. Irwin
Joseph I. Irwin is a descendant of an old pioneer Irish family. His grandfather, Joseph Irwin, emigrated to the United States from Ireland soon after the close of the Revolutionary War and entered the service of the United States in the Indian war in the Northwestern Territory under command of General Anthony Wayne, closing our difficulties with England. Joseph O. Irwin, the grandfather, settled in Bullitt County, Kentucky at a point afterward known as the Cane Spring. Thence he came to Bartholomew County, Indiana in the year 1828. The Irwins were along the first settlers of Bartholomew County, and comprised William, one of the pioneer preachers of the Christian Church; Benjamin, who located near New Hope Church, four miles north of Columbus; Hans and John Irwin, all of them removing to this county in 1821; Benjamin Irwin was one of the first members of the Legislature elected from this county when the capital was at Corydon. John Irwin, the father of Joseph I., removed to Johnson County from Bartholomew in 1836, at which point he died in 1853, aged 55 years.; he was an industrious, hard working man, a devoted member of the Christian Church, and in politics a Whig of the most pronounced type.
Joseph I. Irwin was born near Columbus, Indiana, August 6, 1824, and accompanied his father and family to Johnson County in 1836 where he continued to reside with his father, assisting in the clearing and cultivation of 100 acres of heavily timbered land; his mother still resides and is 79 years of age. In June, 1846, he returned to Columbus where he obtained employment with Messrs. Snyder and Alden, in the dry goods business, with whom he remained three and one half years. In the fall of 1849, he and Western W. Jones purchased a Lucius Barbour an undivided one-fourth of what was known as the Joe McKinney farm, containing 135 acres adjoining the then village of Columbus. Two other interests equal to the first was soon afterward purchased.
These purchases formed the substantial basis of his business property. In 1850, he began his mercantile career on the southwest corner of Walnut (4th) & Washington streets in Columbus.
He has pursued that business with the exception of two short intervals, to the present time, and is now among the leading dry-goods merchants of the city. In 1871, at the earnest solicitation of friends, he commenced the banking business, which has since increased to such an extent as to require most of his attention. He is now doing a large and successful banking business.
On the 5th day of August, 1850, he was married to Harriet C. Glanton, at her mother's residence, one mile south of Columbus. His parents, John Irwin and Vilinda Finley, were married May 24, 1823, four miles north of Columbus, and his wife's parents, J. H. J. Glanton and Amanda Troutman, were married in 1827, one mile west of Columbus.
On leaving Johnson County in 1846, his mother gave him 30 cents to pay railroad fare to Columbus. On reaching Edinburg, he determined to walk to Columbus and save the 30 cents with which to make a start in life(!--my exclamation!). His ideas of economy were learned from his father. His early education in this direction led him to believe that for our country to become rich and prosperous, it was necessary for our people to manufacture more and import fewer goods, and that as individuals, we should live within our means. He thinks if an industrious young man would begin a the age of 21 to save and invest one-fourth of his earnings, he would be a rich man at 50. This idea he has tried to impress on his employees and others with whom he has been associated.
At an early age, he became a member of the Christian Church and has observed all of its tenets. He is noted for his abstemious habits; has never taken a drink of intoxicating liquor in his life as a beverage; never uses tea or coffee, nor tobacco in any form. He is noted as an enterprising citizen and has assisted in the building of more than 40 miles of turnpike within the county limits since 1866.
In the year 1865, he was selected as one of the Directors of the Soldiers and Seamen's Home, and greatly assisted in giving direction to the enterprise, and was instrumental in having it located at Knightstown. For 14 years, he was Charmian of the Republican Central Committee of Bartholomew County, resigning in 1876.
In 1869, he was appointed by Governor Baker as one of the managers of the State Reformatory For Women and Girls, and held this position for 5 years. The institution was erected while he was one of the managers, and is said to be one of the best public buildings erected in the State for the money expended thereon.
In 1872, he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention from the 3rd Congressional District. In 1868, he was elected a Director of the Northwestern Christian University of Indianapolis, now known as the Butler University as Irvington, Indiana. This position he still holds.
In 1871, he was chosen President of the Board of Directors of this institution, which position he held for one year, when his private affairs compelled him to resign. In all the relations of life, Mr. Irwin has been noted for his integrity and ability. Few men rank higher in commercial circles than he.
Joseph I. Irwin's Bank was organized in the year 1871, under the private banking law, and is under the control of Joseph I. Irwin and has, from its organization, had a large patronage and has become popular. It is a bank of deposit (Columbus' first bank, the First National Bank, was a bank of issue).
Joseph I. Irwin
Joseph I. Irwin is a descendant of an old pioneer Irish family. His grandfather, Joseph Irwin, emigrated to the United States from Ireland soon after the close of the Revolutionary War and entered the service of the United States in the Indian war in the Northwestern Territory under command of General Anthony Wayne, closing our difficulties with England. Joseph O. Irwin, the grandfather, settled in Bullitt County, Kentucky at a point afterward known as the Cane Spring. Thence he came to Bartholomew County, Indiana in the year 1828. The Irwins were along the first settlers of Bartholomew County, and comprised William, one of the pioneer preachers of the Christian Church; Benjamin, who located near New Hope Church, four miles north of Columbus; Hans and John Irwin, all of them removing to this county in 1821; Benjamin Irwin was one of the first members of the Legislature elected from this county when the capital was at Corydon. John Irwin, the father of Joseph I., removed to Johnson County from Bartholomew in 1836, at which point he died in 1853, aged 55 years.; he was an industrious, hard working man, a devoted member of the Christian Church, and in politics a Whig of the most pronounced type.
Joseph I. Irwin was born near Columbus, Indiana, August 6, 1824, and accompanied his father and family to Johnson County in 1836 where he continued to reside with his father, assisting in the clearing and cultivation of 100 acres of heavily timbered land; his mother still resides and is 79 years of age. In June, 1846, he returned to Columbus where he obtained employment with Messrs. Snyder and Alden, in the dry goods business, with whom he remained three and one half years. In the fall of 1849, he and Western W. Jones purchased a Lucius Barbour an undivided one-fourth of what was known as the Joe McKinney farm, containing 135 acres adjoining the then village of Columbus. Two other interests equal to the first was soon afterward purchased.
These purchases formed the substantial basis of his business property. In 1850, he began his mercantile career on the southwest corner of Walnut (4th) & Washington streets in Columbus.
He has pursued that business with the exception of two short intervals, to the present time, and is now among the leading dry-goods merchants of the city. In 1871, at the earnest solicitation of friends, he commenced the banking business, which has since increased to such an extent as to require most of his attention. He is now doing a large and successful banking business.
On the 5th day of August, 1850, he was married to Harriet C. Glanton, at her mother's residence, one mile south of Columbus. His parents, John Irwin and Vilinda Finley, were married May 24, 1823, four miles north of Columbus, and his wife's parents, J. H. J. Glanton and Amanda Troutman, were married in 1827, one mile west of Columbus.
On leaving Johnson County in 1846, his mother gave him 30 cents to pay railroad fare to Columbus. On reaching Edinburg, he determined to walk to Columbus and save the 30 cents with which to make a start in life(!--my exclamation!). His ideas of economy were learned from his father. His early education in this direction led him to believe that for our country to become rich and prosperous, it was necessary for our people to manufacture more and import fewer goods, and that as individuals, we should live within our means. He thinks if an industrious young man would begin a the age of 21 to save and invest one-fourth of his earnings, he would be a rich man at 50. This idea he has tried to impress on his employees and others with whom he has been associated.
At an early age, he became a member of the Christian Church and has observed all of its tenets. He is noted for his abstemious habits; has never taken a drink of intoxicating liquor in his life as a beverage; never uses tea or coffee, nor tobacco in any form. He is noted as an enterprising citizen and has assisted in the building of more than 40 miles of turnpike within the county limits since 1866.
In the year 1865, he was selected as one of the Directors of the Soldiers and Seamen's Home, and greatly assisted in giving direction to the enterprise, and was instrumental in having it located at Knightstown. For 14 years, he was Charmian of the Republican Central Committee of Bartholomew County, resigning in 1876.
In 1869, he was appointed by Governor Baker as one of the managers of the State Reformatory For Women and Girls, and held this position for 5 years. The institution was erected while he was one of the managers, and is said to be one of the best public buildings erected in the State for the money expended thereon.
In 1872, he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention from the 3rd Congressional District. In 1868, he was elected a Director of the Northwestern Christian University of Indianapolis, now known as the Butler University as Irvington, Indiana. This position he still holds.
In 1871, he was chosen President of the Board of Directors of this institution, which position he held for one year, when his private affairs compelled him to resign. In all the relations of life, Mr. Irwin has been noted for his integrity and ability. Few men rank higher in commercial circles than he.
Joseph I. Irwin's Bank was organized in the year 1871, under the private banking law, and is under the control of Joseph I. Irwin and has, from its organization, had a large patronage and has become popular. It is a bank of deposit (Columbus' first bank, the First National Bank, was a bank of issue).
His home before 1867 (not sure of locatiion) 
The garden side of the Irwin home today (located 5th & Lafayette Streets) 
