Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
MISS wARREN'S 100000.
The VIII of Rich Inventor Gives His
Fortune to the Girl He Was to Marry.

The peculiar bequest Of John H. Irwin has
opened the way to a story full Of romance. A
rich inventor dies suddenly. his relatives and
many friends attend his funeral, his body is
laid to rest in a beautiful cemetery, and then
everybody is astonished when pretty girl.
twenty-five years old, produces will giving to
her all OF an immense property valued at
about $500, 600. This girl too, lives 900 miles
away. This is the story. in brief, of the death
and bequest Of John H. Irwin, the inventor
The life OF Inventor Irwin WAS an eventful
one. He was a son of David H. Irwin, now
resident in Beardstown, Ill, and was born in
Trenton, Nj, on June 9, 1889. William Birch
all, brother Of John H. Irwin's mother, was
state printer Of Illinois, and John was appren-
ticed at the printing business. Although he
soon learned to set his stick of type in decent
time. he became restless. and after two years
went home. Then the young man had already
begun to show his inventive genius He was
always working at some odd but impractcable
affair, until his father suggested to him
one day that he ought to do some
thing practical, something which would
bring money into the family Golfer,
which was at the time yawnng in cmptines as.
The father told him that lamps and lanterns
would go out if dropped or lowered suddenly
or affected by strong draft. and advised him
to go to work on lantern which would not 60
out II moved rapidly up and down. John went
to the tool house and set to work. 1t required
only three days for the invention Of the tubular
hot-blast lantern. which subsequently brought
John n. Irwin $50, 900 year in royalties John
rushed into the store yelling. 1--we got II. and
he swung his model lantern up and down fend-
ishly without being able to extinguish it.
The father then gave John money to 60 to
Chicago ana remain there until he could secure
the cooperation of capitalists who would push
his invention on the market. A patent was
taken out beautiful model made and the
start was finally secured. This was the begin
ming Of lrwIn's successful career. The war
however. began at this period. and adventur-
GUS John forgot his invention and his manu-
featuring company and enlisted in the navy
For four years he served Uncle Sam under the
union jack. When peace came he returned
home to Philadelphia to find that his tubular
lamp had become popula r and was bringing in
big returns. After looking about for a Few wears.
visiting his father and calling upon his Uncle
Brchell at Springfield, ILL.,, he finally decided
| to buy land at Morton. in Delaware county
Pa, and establish scientific laboratory and
machine shop For few dollars per acre he
bought land which is now valued at from
81 600 to $4,000 an acre. There he has lived
for nineteen years, surrounded by a magnifi-
cent estate of lao acres, on which is fine brick
mansion, situated in well-arranged grounds.
and a well-filled laboratory machine shop and
persistence in perfecting about 200 different
inventions.
John H. Irwin was Mortons chief citizen.
He established Protestant Episcopal Church,
though himself an atheist. He laid out streets,
erected aud maintained street lamps estab-
lished newspaper encouraged a public
library and was ever ready to aid every worthy
movement. His inventions have in late years
been principally connected with electrical ap-
pliances. He was at the time of his death
Itr tnn = WI
trIcal Company OF Chicago for telephone i'm
prOvement Oh the Eell instrument. This will
continue for three years.
Mr.. Irwin was accustomed to visit his father
and his Illinois relatives annually He was
twice married, but each wife died soon. He
had no children. His last wife died in the fall
OF 1883. Since that time he has been devoted
to the young lady to whom he has left his
handsome property. She is Miss Lillian War
rem of Springfield, Ill. Her mother was a
Birchall, daughter Of the Springfield printer.
who befriended Irwin in early life Irwin Wis.
tied them several times, aud she has annually
| spen: month or two i'll Morton.
Last fall Mr. and Mrs. Warren, with their
daughter, spent two months at Twins house.
When they went home in October Irwin went
with them and remained week in Springfield.
IL was during this visit that he is said to have
engaged himself TO marry Miss Lillian who il
beautiful girl oil twenty-five years with a
| sweet face, golden hair and large blue ewes.
When he came home from Illinois in Novem.
| Der he wrote the will which has created such a
stir.
| This will is in his own handwriting. ON q
| sheet OF note paper. He gives his whole prop.
erty, real aud personal, to his ''afianced,' Miss
Lillian Warren OF Springfield, Ill. Condition.
are added as follows: She is to SEQ that hi.
| father. David H. Irwin. now resident in Boards
town. ILL.,, is always enabled to live in com fort
| as he is now accustomed to. She is to main
tam George, Lucy and Ethel Turner, hi,
nephew and nieces, living i'll Philadelphia, un
til each OF them ID twenty-one years old, wher
she will give each $4,000. All previous will,
are revoked. and the statement is made tina
he writes the new one because the last proceed
| ing Will had been torn and mutilated by some
malicious person. Miss Warren is required t.
give no bond to execute the provisions. Or
| June % John H. Irwin, worn out by excessive
work, closed his shop and went to tho Adiron
dacks. Just one month later he fell dead from
| heart disease while out rowing with his friend
Joseph Moore of Philadelphia. His body wa,
taken home and buried on July 80 in the Medis
After the funeral came the sensation. Tn,
little blue-eyed girl produced her will. HeI
brother himself says that he did not know O
ITS existence. The will was filed at Media fo
probate. When the father learned OF its pro
visions he filed a protest against a probate.
Miss Warren Is now staying with her brothe,
at Morton She said that she believed there
would be no contest and is anxious to ayoit
Any court proceedings. She has already agreed
TO provide for Miss Mary Brchall Of Chester
Mr.. Irwin's aunt for whom he provided dur
| lug his lifetime. Miss Warren wears mourn
ing and shows traces of much grief. She say.
that she and Mr.. Irwin were to have been mar.
ried in the fall. but that the exact date had
| not been agreed upon.
David H. IRWIN, the father, feels that his son
was unduly influenced by Miss Warren's fathel
and mother, bat agrees to compromise for .
lump sum. The young lady, it Is understood
real estate alone Is worth at least Sl5O, OOO.
| The people Of Morton generally believe thai
Mr.. Irwin intended his will to be merely tenn.
porary, and think that after his marriage he
would have had lawyer draw up a formal
document making provision for certain chart.
| ties and public institutions in and about the