My Genealogy Hound

Uriah A. Irwin, a prosperous merchant at Oakland, Fayette Co., Tenn., was born in that county September 10, 1848, and is the son of William and Nancy (Alexander) Irwin, who were both natives of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The father was born in 1812 and died in Fayette County in 1845. The mother was born in 1814 and died in Fayette County in 1876. In 1832 the parents moved to Hardin County, near Savannah, Tenn., but not being satisfied, a year later they moved to Fayette County and settled seven miles southwest of Somerville. The father was always a farmer, in politics a Whig and with his wife belonged to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Our subject was the youngest of four children and had a good education, being educated at the Macon Masonic College; he then spent a year farming, then in 1868 went to Hickory Withe and for fourteen months engaged in the mercantile business there, when he returned to his farm and gave his time to it for four years, when he accepted a clerkship in the house of Alexander & Bro. for a year, then again commenced farming which he continued until 1875, when he moved to Oakland and went into the mercantile business with his brother, the firm being T. L. Irwin & Bro. Mr. Irwin has been married twice; first to Miss Ida Cleere, a native of Fayette County, born in 1856; this excellent wife died August 16, 1882, leaving a son and a daughter. February 4, 1885, he married Miss Annie A. Anderson, who was born in Virginia in 1859. They have one son. Mr. Irwin is liberal in his political views but gives his support to the Democratic party; he is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a correct and enterprising business man and is greatly esteemed for his many good qualities.