WILLIAM F. IRWIN, was born in Menard county, two miles south of Salisbury, Sangamon County, October 21, 1837, where he remained until March, 1854, when he came with his parents to Sangamon county, and settled on a farm in section twenty-three, Salisbury township, on the east side of the river, and where he has remained since. He was married to Miss Ellen J. Williams, May 23, 1872. She was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 18, 1852. She was a daughter of James M. Williams. He was born in North Carolina, and settled in Springfield in 1835, and his wife Mary Repherd, born in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1819. William F. Irwin was a son of Robert S. Irwin, born in North Carolina. He came to Illinois in 1827, settled in Menard County, and in 1854 came to Sangamon county, and bought an interest in a water power grist and saw mill on Sangamon river. He afterwards owned this mill himself, and ran it until February, 1867, when it was torn down by the ice. At the time of his death, may 3, 1874, he had accumulated a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Salisbury township. His wife was Cynthia (Duncan) Irwin, born in Kentucky; was a member of the Baptist church, and died April 6, 1872. Wm. F. Irwin and wife have had five children, four living: Warren H., Ruth A., and two children not named. Mr. W. F. Irwin owns a farm of one hundred and twelve acres in sections twenty-three, twenty-six and twenty-seven, where he resides. He also owns twenty acres in section sixteen, Springfield township. He has held the offices of supervisor, assessor, town clerk, school director and treasurer in his township for a number of years, and is at present supervisor and school treasurer.