The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-20

turned home and a few days after his re-
turn his illness had developed so alarm
ingly that he was forced to the conine-
ment of his room. He was fully aware Of
the nature of his trouble and expected
that death would result.
All his life Mr.. Erwin had been noted for
his interest in public affairs and In any
movement affecting the growth and pros
perity of this city. While he was i'll in bed he
subscribed $500 toward the technical school
fund, and Wednesday he called George w.
Brown by telephone and informed him thai
he desired to increase his subscription to
81 LOCO.
BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Daniel Peart Erwin was born in Column
bia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April
20, 1874. He was the eldest son of Martin
and Hannah Erwin. The Erwin family had
It's origin in Scotland. removed afterward
to the north Of Ireland and then came to
America. AS was the custom in those days.
the immigrants did not settle In any one
locality. They branched out in different d.
r~ections, and Ii Is due largely to this that
the original family name of Erwin has I'M
dsrgone several changes. in spelling.
Martin Erwin, the father. was born and
brought up in Lancaster county, and as a
young man drifted into the transportation
business. He established a route for him.
self and employed a large number OF six
horse teams and the great Conestoga wag-
ons in transferring merchandise from Co.
lumbia, the western terminus of the first
| railroad built westward from Philadelphia,
over the Allegheny mountains to Wheeling,
on the Ohio river. On his return trips Mar
tin Erwin carried back loads of Western
produce. which was sold or exchanged In
Eastern markets.
1t was while employed I'm this manner
that he met Hannah Lockhard, who was
born in Columbia June Is. 1875. The Lock-
hard family Is one of the oldest and most
historic in Pennsylvania, the early men,
bers being colonial and revolutionary per-
sonages of Importance. ID: p. Erwin's
follower of Martin Luther. She was noted
for her work among the poor. the sick, the
needy and disabled. She ruled her family
with old-time strict Christianity. From his
mother Daniel p. Erwin acquired the love
of honesty, integrity and benevolence. all OF
which were prominent points In his char
acter. From his father he acquired shrewd-
ness and ability in business affairs. the
foundation of his great fortune.
SCHOOLING LIMITED.
The early life of Mr.. Erwin differed in
nowise from that Of any other young man
of the period. School facilities were ex-
tremely limited in Columbia, and there were
few advantages for children. Such as they
were were placed at the disposal of the
Erwin family. and the education of the
children extended through the public, pri-
vate and night schools. Daniel p. Erwin
while an apt student, was OF a restless, row.
ing disposition. and at the age of thirteen
during the absence of his father and mother
on a visit to Muscatine, Ia. where they had
extensive interests In lands-lost during the
parnc of 1S57-he indentured himself as ar
apprentice in the office Of the Columbia
Spy printing establishment. This step, while
not meeting with the approval of the par
ents, in the end proved fortunate. The du'
ties of the position stimulated a taste fol
reading and study. which made him not
only a valuable assistant In the office, bu'
laid also the foundation for that praQtica
COMPREHENSION OF the great enterprises with
which his name became associated in after
years.
Going to his duties at 5 o'clock I'm tn,
morning for the first two years to prepar,
the office for the days work; SUNNI hil
tasks of composition at the c~ase-wher,
he became very expert-the long nights Of
study; the debating society-ali contributed
TO the development OF discipline an(
strength of character. On the expiration OF
his five years of apprenticeship. durfnl
which he had become a successful compiler
O. news, a fair composition and had gained
a full knowledge Of all the departments o.
a newspaper. he retired, not without til,
ambition to own a paper.
VISIT TO CINCINNATI.
when the civil war broke out he tried Z.
get an appointment to West Point. but hi
! representative In Congress. Thaddeus Stew