Husband Gen. James Irvin 1 2 3 4
Born: 18 Feb 1800 - Linden Hall, Harris Twp, Centre Co, PA 1 5
Christened:
Died: 28 Nov 1862 - Hecla, Schuylkill Co, PA 1 5
Buried:
Father: John Irvin (1764-1843) 2 6 7
Mother: Ann(e) Watson (1781-1855) 2 7 8
Marriage: 24 Sep 1822 1 5
Other Spouse: Mary A. [Unk] ( -1878) 1 9 - 1 Jan 1859 1
Wife Julia Ann Gregg 10
AKA: Juliana Gregg,4 Julianna Gregg 3
Born: 26 Jun 1797 - Penn's Valley, Centre Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died: 4 Jul 1856 10
Buried:
Father: Hon. Andrew Gregg (1755-1835/1835) 3 11 12 13 14
Mother: Martha Potter (1769-1815) 3 13 14 15
Children
• They had no children.
General Notes: Husband - Gen. James Irvin
In the spring of 1823 he commenced business as a merchant and grain dealer at Oak Hall, Pennsylvania, and soon after moved into the handsome stone mansion later occupied by Rev. R. Hamill, D.D. In 1832, Gen. Irvin, in connection with his father, purchased the interest of John Miles in Centre Furnace, Gen. William W. Houston buying Joseph Green's interest, and Gen. Irvin commenced his career as an iron-master. The same year, July 2d, he was elected major-general of the Tenth Division, and acquired a title by which he was so well known. In 1837, Irvin & Houston, in connection with John Adams, built Julian Furnace, so named in compliment to Mrs. Irvin, soon after which Gen. Irvin purchased Gen. Houston's interest and removed to Milesburg Iron-Works.
In the fall of 1840, Gen. Irvin was elected member of Congress from the district, taking his seat May 31, 1841, at the extra session called by John Tyler after the death of President Harrison. His first effort in Congress in speech-making was in the interest of American industries. And the labors of himself and coadjutors were crowned with success in the passage of the act of 1842. In the fall of 1842, Gen. Irvin was re-elected to Congress, and served until March 3, 1845, when he was succeeded by Hon. John Blanchard. Gen. Irvin had been a great friend of Gen. Jackson prior to his veto of the United States Bank. That action of President Jackson determined Gen. Irvin's course in opposition to the Democratic party.
In 1847, Gen. Irvin was nominated by the Whig party for the office of Governor of Pennsylvania, but the opposition to the Democracy was distracted by the Native American and Abolition elements, and notwithstanding Gen. Irvin's standing and character and his popularity with the people he was defeated by Francis R. Shunk. After this campaign he resumed business with his accustomed energy. In 1854 his business was simply enormous, being interested in the business and management of ten charcoal blast furnaces, the forge and rolling-mill at Milesburg works, farms, and mills. He was interested in Centre Furnace; Mill Creek from 1845 to 1862; Mercer Iron-Works at Greenville; Monroe Furnace, 1849-55; Washington Furnace, 1852-57; Martha Furnace, 1854-57; Julian, Hecla, and Hopewell. He had, however, to succumb before the financial disaster of 1857 and retire from the iron business.
His former partner, Moses Thompson, said of him that he was one of the best business men in Centre County, and had he not been so benevolent would have been its wealthiest. He gave largely to every public enterprise-the Bald Eagle Canal, the Bald Eagle Railroad; previous to those to the various turnpikes made in the county. To the State College, or Farmers' High School as it was then, he donated a farm of two hundred acres, besides large contributions of money. He was always economical, and industrious and successful, until his business became too large for his personal supervision. Then intervened changes of methods of the manufacture of iron, changes of prices brought about by the increase in the manufacture of anthracite iron, and its taking the place of charcoal iron for many purposes; the consequent difficulty of finding new customers for the large production of ten charcoal blast furnaces, crowding the market with puddled and cheaper grades of iron.
In the prime of life Gen. Irvin was a noble specimen of physical manhood; as a wrestler and jumper he had few equals. His hospitality and generosity were unbounded, and his fidelity to his family and friends he never allowed to falter. He saved many a fireside from execution and sale.
After retiring from business he resided in Philadelphia, managing an iron-store for McCoy & Linn, his former partners, and in 1861 was appointed by Secretary Welles naval store-keeper at the Philadelphia navy-yard. He died at Col. Andrew Gregg's, at Hecla.
He was from early manhood a Presbyterian, the faith of his ancestors for untold generations.