"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 304.  Baker County.

JOHN ERWIN

     It is with especial pleasure that we are allotted the pleasant task of
outlining in brief the career of the well known pioneer and prominent citizen
whose name introduces this article, since he has played a prominent part in the
development of this region, has ever wrought with energy and wisdom, has
maintained an unsullied life and has proved on the field of battle his devotion
to his country and his love for its free institutions.  And to whom, more than
to the noble men, when fratricidal strife lowered and raged through this fair
land, that laid aside the affairs of personal interest and went to the front to
lift again into its place the banner that had so ignominiously been torn from
the standard of freedom, should we delight to do honor by mentioning their lives
of faithful devotion?
     John Erwin is the son of David and Elenor (Arnott), natives respectively of
Ireland and Scotland, who came to this land and were married in New York state,
where they settled in Genesee county.  In that place, on September 20, 1839, our
subject was born and there he received his educational training.  He had
scarcely reached hi majority when the call came for troops and he responded at
once, enlisting in the One Hundred and Fourth Infantry, and in that capacity he
remained until July 12, 1865, when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant
major.  He participated in all of the battles in Virginia and was in active
service from the start to finish.  On December 13, 1862, he received a bayonet
wound at Fredericksburg, and on July 4, at Gettysburg, he was wounded by a
sharpshooter and several other times his body stopped rebel lead, but from all
these he recovered.  Returning to his native state he engaged in general
merchandising at Linden, and one year later all was lost by fire, following
which he repaired to Oakland, Michigan, whence two years later he went to Baker
county, 1868 being the date when he first landed here.  For over twenty years he
engaged in mining and raising cattle, being in company with J. C. Powers & Co.,
and at one time owned over one thousand head of cattle on the range.  In 1892 he
bought the farm where he now resides in Lower Powder river valley, and here he
has devoted his entire attention to tilling the soil and stock raising and
buying and selling stock.  He has some fine thoroughbred Short Horn Durham
cattle and some excellent horses.  In political matters he has always been
prominent in the Republican party and the county has profited much by his
service in office.  He was county commissioner of Union county for some time and
justice of the peace for four years and for sixteen years he ahs been a school
officer in Erwin district.
     On January 23, 1881, Mr. Erwin and Miss Ada, daughter of A. J. and Martha
(Harp) Brown, natives of Tennessee, were married and to them have been born the
following children:  Belle, wife of H. C. Easterbrook; James G.; Ethel O.; John
P.; Ada E.; Jackson O.; Edith V., Walter G.; all of whom, except the married
daughter, reside at home.  Mr. Erwin has made a number of trips to Michigan for
the purpose of selling horses.  And during the early days it is to be recorded
that he was very active in participating in the Indian wars of this region.  He
was one of the number that chased the notorious Indian chieftain, Egan, and has
been to the front whenever there was danger to the settlers.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.