Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 143.
 
ROBERT ARMINGTON IRVINE

     A product of the south, Robert Armington Irvine joined that notable company
of intrepid men and women who braved the dangers of the Pacific northwest and
blazed the trails for the oncoming thousands. He aided in bringing to light the
rich agricultural resources of Linn county, Oregon, and served the state of his
adoption with honor and distinction in public office. He was born in Kentucky in
1824 and his father, Jesse Irvine, was also a native of the Blue Grass state as
was his mother, Margaret Hadley. The former was English and the latter of Scotch
descent.
    Robert A. Irvine was reared and educated in his native state and in early
manhood married Miss Berry, also a Kentuckian. In 1852 he traveled overland to
Oregon with oxen and horse teams and was accompanied by his wife and two
children as well as his mother and several brothers and sisters. In the six
months' journey Mr. Irvine lost one of his children, who was buried in the
Platte river, and his wife died while crossing the Cascade mountains, leaving a
small son, John. Mr. Irvine had started with one hundred head of cattle and
fifty horses but owing to disease and losses incurred through Indians
encountered along the route his stock was almost wiped out. His mother died the
night they reached Salem, Oregon, and was laid to rest in the first grave in the
Lee Mission cemetery. His brothers and sisters scattered throughout Oregon and
some took up homesteads.
     Mr. Irvine settled near Scio, in Linn county, and gradually added to his
holdings until he became the owner of one thousand, four hundred acres of
valuable land. He was industrious and systematic and received substantial
returns from his labors. He operated the ranch near Scio until 1868, when he was
elected sheriff of Linn county and moved to Albany, discharging his duties with
courage and efficiency, so that he was reelected in 1870. In 1872 he purchased a
tract of land near Albany and was there engaged in farming for a number of
years. In 1886 Mr. Irvine was elected state senator and served for two terms. He
stood firmly against corruption and narrow partisanship and was instrumental in
securing the passage of much constructive legislation. Mr. Irvine was known for
his fairness and conservatism and his name carried much influence and power. He
was affiliated with the Presbyterian church and the Masonic lodge in Albany. His
strength of intellect and of character were supplemented by modesty, kindliness
and geniality a rare combination, found only in the largest and finest natures.
He was a promoter of education, morality and good government and his death was a
great loss to his community and state.
     In 1853 Mr. Irvine had married Miss Sarah Jane Smith, a native of Ohio, who
was born in 1834 and in 1852 crossed the plains with her parents, who first
located in Linn county, Oregon, and later moved to Marion county. Her father,
Dr. Elijah Smith, was a man of considerable means and generous impulses. He
aided the early settlers to the extent of his ability and figured prominently in
political affairs during the formative period in Oregon's history. He died July
22, 1892. He had a family of eleven children. His daughter, Mrs. Sarah J.
Irvine, became the mother of four children: Mrs. Margaret Ellen Bilyeu, of
Eugene; Dr. E. L. Irvine, a prominent physician of Portland, Oregon; Mary I.
Slauson; and Mrs. Amanda I. Thompson.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.