Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-11-26
MRS. WILLIAM IRVINE
DIES AT HOME HERE
Descendant Of Most Prominent
Families Of Early Days, Comes
To End of Long Life

| Clanahan Irvine, died at her home
''Irvineton," Lancaster. avenue
November 18th, at 2 p. m.
| She was -he daughter of Col
David Irvine and Miss McDow-
ell. Her mother was daughter
of DR.. Ephriam Mcdowell, the
most noted surgeon Kentucky
ever had, and granddaughter OF
Kentuckys' first Governor, Isaac
Shelby. Her grandfather. VIM
Irvine, was the first clerk of Mad
ison county, having removed to
tbs county from Virginia before
Madison was made a county. Only
a few weeks ago Mrs. Irvine pre-
sented to the court room a very
handsome portrait of this pioneer,
and first clerk of the court. She
had previously given portrait of
her father who was also clerk of
the court for many years.
1t is apparent from these facts,
briefly stated, therefore, that her
people were among those who
from the beginning had an active
part i'll the making of the history
of both our county and state.
Mrs. Irvine was born in Madi-
son in May, 1929, and at the time
of her death had attained the
great age of 81 years and six
months
In her girlhood she was a pupil
at the famous girls school of DIR.
John H. Brown, who was a dis
tinguished educator and Presby-
terian Divine of this city from
about 1929 to 1874 This school
was. conducted in the building of
the First Presbyterian church.
Later Mrs. Irvine was sent by her
father for the completion of her
education to Philadelphia. Here.
she acquired ali the graces and
accomplishments, considered SO
essential for a young woman Of
that period.
Returning to her home after an
absence of two years, she enjoyed
all the pleasures, and participated
in all the gaities of this and the
neighboring counties She was
chosen to present the battle flag
to. Captain Stones Company on
their leaving for the Mexican
war.
-fsThere was ever about her ia
theirs homeland it was but
type of many such.-a, gracious
welcome for all its guests, a
charm Of conversation, an absence
of familiarity, combined with a
grace and dignity of its own
members, which has brought that
period to the present generation
with almost an halo.
All these characteristics Mrs.
Irvine had and maintained in her
personal intercourse and III her
home to the end.
When only eighteen years OF
age she married her cousin, the
late Col. William M. Irvine. They
lived for a while on the farm
where Mr.. Lewis Neale now lives,
but later her father presented to
her the beautiful house and
grounds where she has lived for
almost seventy years.
Her married life while singular
ly happy with her husband was
marked by many sorrows in the
loss Of children. Only one grew
to maturity. Her last child and
namesake, just budding INTO 2
beautiful young womanhood,
passed away while at school in |!
New York. This crowning sor-
row remained with her to tie end |
of her 1ife.-but "shc dill rot eor
row as those who have no hope"
Mrs. Irvine was in many re-
spects a most remarkable charac-
ter. She loved books and read
them, she loved flowers and culti-
vated them, and she had for her
home a love amounting almost to
a passion. After the death of her
husband, without previous train
ing, she assumed full and com
D1ete control of their large COM {
Dined fortunes and managed them
with wonderful sagacity. She
read the daily papers to the end
Of her life and was interested in
all current events.
She was loyal to her friends and |
faithful and liberal 20
her church. She is the last of her
family in our community; her go
ing marks the passing of race
who would have given strength
and standing to any community
rs it has certainly to this. I'll
might truly be said of her as was
IF the great Cardinal:
Lofty and sour to those who
loved her not;
- L.