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Obituary

Dr. William Irvine

This respected and distinguished gentleman, who died at Irvine on Tuesday last, was one cf the best known persons of northwestern Pennsylvania. He was born in Eric Sept. 19, 1803. (this date is disputed in recently published papers of Brig Gen Wm Irvine) the only son of Gen. Callender Irvine, who was then prothonotary of this county, the latter being the son of Gen. William Irvine, of Revolutionary fame, under whom "the town of Erie" was laid out, and at whose suggestion measures were initialed for the purchase by the commonwealth of the Triangle.

On the death of Gen. William Irvine in 1804 his son Callender removed to Philadelphia, when Callender was appointed his father's successor as commissary general of the United States, and continued such till his death in 1840.

William A. Irvine was educated as a physician and innerited a large property in Warren and Erie counties, removed to Warren county and settled at the mouth of the Brokenstraw. There he made important improvements, built various mills, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He also improved numerous farms and carried on business extensively for many years. He married Sarah Duncan, the daughter of the well-known Dr. Stephen Duncan, of Mississippi. Mrs. Irvine died in early life, leaving one son and two daughters. The son died. The daughters are Mrs. Biddle and Mrs. Newbold.

Dr. Irvine was public-spirited and an active promoter of the Erie & Sunbury Railroad, not only in its early projection, but on its revival and continuation until finally completed as the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. He was long a member and the president of the Society of the Cincinnati (if we are not misinformed) at the time of his death.

He was prominent as a Whig, as such the nominee of this district for Congress in 1840, and for elector in 1844. In later years he acted with the Democracy.

As an accomplished gentleman of enlarged views and patriotic, public-spirited impulse; he will long be remembered. Though of late not in active business, he continued his interest in all matters of public concern and spent considerable time in Philadelphia, generally participating in the annual meeting of the Cincinnati. Probably no gentleman in northwestern Pennsylvania was better authority in historical matters and no one better versed in all that tended to develop and promote the prosperity of Pennsylvania.