The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-11-21
A Pioneer of 1850.

Isle WHICH gave DlIIn ana 1a1ne
to a Burke, a Curran and O'Con-
nell, June nth, 1873, and died
at his homestead, ten miles south
of this city, November IS, 1895,
aged 81 years, S months and q !
days. Atthe age of 1o, he came
with his widowed mother, one
brother and two sisters to America
He had received the benefit of.
a collegiate education and was
we'll equipped for the battle of
life. His ancestors were Scotch
Irish Presbyterians, and he was
baptised in this church ininfancy.
In 1912, young Irwin found en-
ployment in a mercantile store
in Lockport, N. Y. Four years
later he was sent by his employ
ers to Ohio to take charge of a
branch store. Mr.. Irwin then
followed merchandising in Ohio,
Illinois and Iowa, until 1850.
During these years lie was often
associated with Hon. Stephen A.
Douglas, with whom he CORES
ponded after coming to Oregon.
He was also we'll acquainted with
President Lincoln. Early in
1880, at St. Louis, Mo-, he mar
ried Miss Louisa Kompp, a ma
tive of Germany. To them were
born six children. Three of
these children, Mrs. Joseph Nc
Bee, James c. and Richard S.,
with the mother, are left to
mourn the great loss of a kind
husband, and a faithful father.
In the spring of 1850, Mr.. r.
win started from Fairfield, Iowa,
with his bride of one day, an
outfit consisting of $50 and
an abundant supply Of provis-
sions, for the then far Pacific
Coast. Being of a generous dis
position he freely gave to the
needy whom he met on the plains,
until, when he arrived at The
Dalles, he found his supply of
provisions exhausted, and then
began the severe suferings aud
privations of pioneer life. He
came to Portland and engaged in
business until 1851, when he re-
moved to Marysville, now Cor
wallis and opened store. While
at Portland he became an init
mate friend of w. S. Ladd, who
was i'll Mr.. Irwin's employ for a
time. In September Of that year
he located $40 acres as donation
claim, where he resided the re-
lnainder of his life. He added
largely to his estate, till it en-
braces today more than a tllous-
and acres of Benton county's
most fertile land.
It can truly be said of him
that he was of that North of Ire
land Drawn and brain that had
the grit and the grip to make
brave. lnen and noble women.
If Benton county is one of the
best counties in the state, and it
surely is, it is because of its grand
pioneer men and. women. Such
men as Irwin, Porter, Harris,
Foster, Rickard, Bruce, McBee,
Buchanan and scores of others,
as we'll as tile brave, self-sacrihc-
ing women who have stood by
their side, have made these hills
and valleys to bloom as a very
garden of the gods. But for
ward and forward fast, one by one,
these pioneer fathers and moth
ers are moving on beyond these
borders of time to the eternal
shores. We will thank them for
the heritage they have bequeath-
ed to us. We will cherish their
memory in delightful rernem-
brance. AS the sun was looking
through the clouds, with brightest
smiles, for a few moments last
Sabbath afternoon, the casket,
holding all that was mortal of
Richard Irwin, was lowered to its
final resting place in the family
cemetery near the house.
A very large rlulnberof friends,
acquaintances and citizens gath
cred to pay their tribute of respect
to this esteemed and worthy pio-
neer, and syrnpathize with the
bereaved family. The services
by Dr.. Thompsn were impressive.
THERE are four companies of
cadets at the Oregon Agr1cultu-