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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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David M. Erwin, formerly a merchant at Erwin Station, a point named for him, was born in that vicinity in Black township, Posey county, Indiana, July 21, 1854, son of James M. and Rachael J. (Redman) Erwin, both natives of the township in which our subject was born. James M. is the son of Samuel Erwin. Both his parents were natives of Tennessee and came to Posey county over one hundred years ago, when this part of the country was still a wilderness, there being no city of Mt. Vernon. Samuel Erwin entered several hundred acres of land in Black township, part of which is still in the hands of his grandson, David M. James Erwin cleared up a number of acres of this land and our subject finished the work of clearing away the forest. James Erwin was born September 6, 1829, and his wife, Rachael, was born August 25, 1832. Both are living with their son, David M., enjoying a ripe old age. David Erwin received his early education at Farmersville and at Gill school house. Later he graduated from the Evansville Commercial College and attended the University of Indiana at Bloomington, Ind. After leaving the university he engaged in the book business in Mt. Vernon, where he had a store for about two years. Selling out, he went back to the farm where he was raised and farmed for about six years. In 1884 he opened a general store at Erwin Station. Here he remained for twenty years and was ticket agent for the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad and the only postmaster the place ever had. The store is now abandoned, but the flag station is still known as Erwin’s Station. In 1902 he retired from business and removed to Mt. Vernon, where he has a nice city home. His farm at Erwin’s Station contains no acres. Mr. Erwin has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-three years, a member of the Encampment for sixteen years, and has represented the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment several times. He also belongs to the Ben Hur Lodge and the Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican. On April 12, 1879, Mr. Erwin married Miss Katie Kastenbader, a native of Hawesville, Ky., who was raised in Mt. Vernon, where she attended common school. They had three children: Minnie, John and James, all deceased, and the mother died in December, 1881. Mr. Erwin married the second time, February 12, 1884, taking as his wife Amelia Banks, a native of White county, Illinois, where she was raised and attended common school. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other, Frank M., was born June 25, 1889. He attended at Craborchard school in Black township until he finished the eighth grade. His parents then removed to Mt. Vernon and he graduated from the high school there. He then entered Purdue University, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1912, and also received a degree in civil engineering, being the first person from Posey county to graduate with the degree of Civil Engineer. He married Pearl Bottomly, daughter of James Bottomly, of Mt. Vernon, and he is now engaged by the Louisville & Nashville railroad as civil engineer at Louisville, Ky. In politics he is a Republican.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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