Jarid Clemson Irwin 1830-1912Jarid Clemson Irwin was born March 13th 1830, the son of Martin & Rachel Irwin , A Shoemaker, and a Civil War Veteran, he was active in public service in Sunbury. In 1910 he published a "pamphlet" entitled Reminisces Of Sunbury, with assorted history and engravings.
Irwin married Ann Kiehl , in Danville in 1851 and the two celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary, before she died in 1910. Jared died November 17th 1912, two years after his book was published. Both he and his wife are buried in Pomfret Cemetery, Sunbury Pa.
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J.C. Irwin, as described in Floyd's Annals of Northumberland County:
JARID C. IRWIN, a venerable citizen of Sunbury has had a long and useful life, one of unusual activity, and few residents of the borough are any better known in the community. For many years he was identified with its public affairs, having served several years in the borough council, as member of the school board for the remarkable period of twenty-one years, during which time he was never absent from a meeting of the board, and was chairman of the building committee who superintended the erection of the present high school building, as justice of the peace, and from 1892 to 1897 as postmaster of the borough.
Mr. Irwin is a son of Martin Irwin, who came to Sunbury early in 1830 from Chester county. Pa.. where he was born April 1, 1804. He followed shoemaking throughout his working years, and was an industrious and intelligent man. one who had the respect and confidence of all who knew him. For some years he sewed as court crier, and in 1848 he was elected to the office of register and recorder of Northumberland county, which he was filling at the time of his death. June 13, 1849, in Sunbury. He was a Democrat, and quite active in polities. Mr. Irwin married Rachel Irwin, who was horn in 1808 in Lancaster county. Pa., daughter of James Irwin, a native of Chester county, where he is buried; He lived to the age of ninety-three. James Irwin had the following sons: George, James. Samuel, Joseph. Jarid and Fenius.
Nine children were born to Mr. & Mrs. Martin Irwin: Jarid C. born March 13, 1830; James P. born in 1832; Mary, horn in 1834 who married Charles D. Wharton; S. Elizabeth, born in 1836, who married Dr. Daniel Shindel; Isabella, horn in 1838. who married Joseph Bright; Amelia Alice, born in 1842, who married John Olson; Marian, born in 1843, who died young; Jane P. born in 1846, who married Edward Israel : and Samuel P.. born in 1849, who married Miss Val Elexander, and died in 1908. The parents of this family are buried at Sunbury, in the lower Fourth street) cemetery. They were Episcopalians in religious connection and active in church life. After the father's death the mother married (second) Frederick Lazarus, whom she also survived, her death occurring in 1895.
Jarid C. Irwin was horn Maxell 13, 1830, in Sunbury, where he grew to manhood, and there he has always made his home. He learned shoemaking with his father, with whom he worked from an early age. beginning the trade in the days when custom work was the rule: when the work was all done by hand; and when shoes were made on straight lasts, not rights and lefts as at present, and worn on either foot, being changed about daily to keep heels and soles from becoming crooked. Mr. Irwin followed this business throughout his active years, and prospered.
It is his public career, however, that has brought him into special prominence, In- services having red many years, during which he filled various offices with ability, showing conscientious devotion to the duties entrusted to him. He was a member of the borough council for two terms. For twenty-one years he served on the school board, for a longer period than any other one man in Sunbury, and in all that time never missed a meeting of the board, was secretary of that body for twelve years, treasurer four years, and president for a time, and always known as one of the most effective workers in the borough in the cause of public education. On April 14, 1890, he was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Beaver, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of A. N. Price. At the close of his appointive term, first Monday in May. 1801. he was elected for five years, but in 1892 resigned his office, having been in the meantime appointed postmaster, when Hon. John Wanamaker was postmaster general. He held that office until 1897.
Mr. Irwin has always been a stanch Republican and he served in the Union army during the Civil war under three enlistments. In 1861 he became a private of Company F. 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. with which he served three months, in Maryland and Virginia, taking part in the first fight at Falling Waters, Va. His second term of service was as a private in the 45th Pennsylvania Regiment, which which he remained a littler over a year, taking part in battles of James Island (S.C.) Antietam and South Mountain; later he served a yar as a private of Company c, 47th Pennsylvania Regiment.
He was a leading member of William A. Brunner Post, No. 335, G. A. R., of Sunbury, which he helped to organize, being one of the charter members, and is a past commander. For the past fourteen years Mr. Irwin has acted for the county commissioners in the matter of looking after indigent Civil war veterans, seeing that decent burial is provided for such as die without sufficient means and that headstones arc erected to mark their graves properly. For many years he was a member of the Knights of Pythias. In religion, like his parents, he is an Episcopalian.
Mr. Irwin can look back over a most interesting period of Sunbury's development, and he has embodied his memories in a book of Reminiscences, which he completed and published in 1910, when past the age of eighty. The edition of three hundred copies was intended chiefly for distribution among his friends, but it is a substantial and valuable addition to the history of the borough and of Northumberland county, though the author himself claimed no such distinction for it. The work was a labor of love, accomplished in his leisure hours, and the accuracy of his recollections, together with the care and thought which he bestowed upon this collection of "fugitive facts" concerning the early days in which all are interested, not only evidence the remarkable clearness and vigor of mind which this octogenarian has retained, but show a true gift for the grasping of those things most characteristic of the times he depicts and a faculty for presenting them which entitles the book to more than local recognition.
The cold facts of history stand in little danger of being lost in these days of daily records, and the increasing appreciation of the value of statistics. It is the doings and incidents typical of the early days of the borough which may too readily slip into oblivion unless rescued in time by the hand of one who has the necessary knowledge and opportunity to record them. The book contains so many entertaining recitals of life and conditions in the early days of the borough that it might furnish "local color" for many other works, incidents of all kind- being set forth in most attractive and readable form, and with a regard for facts that enhances the worth of the volume appreciably. _ The people who have known and loved Sunbury feel a personal sense of gratitude toward him for the occurrences he has perpetuated in this work. The customs and practices of Sunbury people sixty and more years ago he recounts from his personal experiences and recollections. Beginning with a brief reference to the founding of the borough, a little before his time, he gives two quotations from an old newspaper, which present in sharp contrast with the present the days when Sunbury had no communication with the outside world except by means of the turnpike and canal. One notes the return, April 3, 1835, of the canal boat "Augusta" from Philadelphia; the other the arrival of two cars of coal from Shamokin in 1S36, the year the railroad between Sunbury anil Shamokin was completed. At this time there were eight hotels or taverns, as they were then called, in the town, some of them on sites still occupied by hotels. In 1842 the population was only 1,108, and at that time there was not a house in sight north of Race street, or south of Spruce, or east of what is now known as Spring Run. In 1848 the entire tax levy of the borough amounted to $1,294.63. The public schools were opened in 1834, and the school tax for the first year was $554:938; the first building especially erected for school purposes in Sunbury was opened in December, 1837.
Of interesting fads concerning the changes in the physical features of the town there are many, some scarcely comprehensible to the present generation. The present site of the Reading railroad depot was an old basin which was a favorite resort of skaters in the winter season: Shamokin creek was once a "fisherman's paradise": the part of town extending from the upper basin to beyond the Philadelphia & Erie shops was practically a swamp, covered with a dense wild growth of shrubs, bushes and vines; and allusion is made to old picnic ground, "which was a dense growth of trees, south of the eastern extension of Walnut street and east of Spring run, extending along Shamokin creek, quite up to the old town mill."'
In these days a boy could not earn more than twenty-five cents a day. a levy, or twelve and a half cents, being the average, and fifty cents daily was the regular price paid for a man's labor.
There was little opportunity for girls to make money.
To the social pleasures of the day and humorous happenings, many of which have become historic, Mr. Irwin devotes considerable space, He tells of the annual training days, when the militia met at Sunbury for drill, of the fights and festivities which marked these occasions: the hucksters busily engaged in the sale of the ginger cakes, root beer and other refreshments in popular demand; and the dancing, usually at the "Black Horse Hotel," the 'Ferry House" and the Cross Keys." One of the most amusing incidents related was the expedition made by the Sunbury Grays to out a negro family squatted on an island in the river. One day. the drum corps being short of a fifer, a celebrated whistler in the town agreed to furnish the music for the parade, and kept his word. The horse races so keenly enjoyed in the early clays, the feud between the Sunbury and Northumberland boys, and numerous other things recalled with zest by most of the older inhabitants have been set down with a pen moved by the spirit of the tinies, and the volume has been received with delight. A number of illustrations accompany the text.
On Feb. 15, 1851, Mr. Irwin married in Danville, Pa., Ann S. Kiehl. who was born in 1833 the daughter of George W. Kiehl, of Sunbury, at one time sheriff of Northumberland county. She died March 9, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin had four children, namely: Marian, who died young; Georgia Anna, who married Sharon Stephen., of Harrisburg, where she died, leaving two children, Fred II. and Bessie; William, who died young, and Martin, who died young.
- From the Annals Of Northumberland County By Floyd
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Enlisted as a Private with Company C (the "Sunbury Guards") of the 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers on 21 February 1865. Mustered out with his regiment at Charleston, South Carolina on 25 December 1865.
by Jarid C. Irwin
In the month of September, 1861, Leader Thomas D. Grant, Musicians Jarid C. Irwin, Edward M. Bucher, Samuel P. Bright, W. T. Blair, Jacob Feig, C. D. Wharton, L. B. Howard, Jesse Metz, J. C. Miller, Charles D. Snively, Henry Stulen, J. P. Strickland, Samuel Vanbuskirk, George W. Weaver, Pjilip Wetmore, Jacob Weiser, and George W. Walls, organized a band to be known as "the Sunbury Brass Band," with the intention of enlisting in the Forty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as such, during the war. The band as organized proceeded to Harrisburg, Pa., and was sworn in the service into camp at Camp Curtin.
The band wound up with one half of the 45th regiment on Otter Island, South Carolina...
...We found a desolate place...but no buildings. There was a dismantled fort on the Point next to the entrance from the coast. It was named "Fort Drayton." It was a lonesome looking place. The sloop of war Dale lay in the entrance to St. Helena Sound to guard the entrance to the river. Many transports navigated the stream up and down, conveying soldiers and supplies to the different islands. There was not much amusement on the island. Fishing for crabs and hunting coons and shells took our time. There were alligators on the island... The band did duty on these islands in South Carolina for several months.
...July 4th, 1862, the band played the national airs, and on July 8th took a trip up the river to Beaufort, to see the Forty-seventh Regiment. We arrived there safely and were entertained by the Sunbury boys in great style.
On July 13th, 1862, the band left for Elliot's Plantation, a mile or two above Hilton Head, and went into camp, in sight of Hilton Head. A rumor was circulated that we had been ordered to report at Hilton Head, and take transportation to Fortress Monroe, Va. We started at once and went aboard the mail ship Arago with the regiment. There were also a number of other soldiers and officers, also some ladies and cildren aboard the ship. During the voyage the band was in great demand, the strangers aboard enjoying their music, particularly the music adapted fro dancing. Captain Gregg and other officers of the Forty-fifth were quite liberal with the champagne they furnished the band. The guests presented the band with 20 dollars [Roughly $500 today] (and a thank you note).
On Board the Steamer "Arago," Sunday, July 20th, 1862.
The band arose early this morning; there was a light rain, and the wind was blowing quite brisk. The band played the familiar hymn, "Old Hundred." The music aroused a great many of the guests, and under the inspiration of the melodious sounds joined in unison with the band, and the harmony produced brought forth many tears. The band also joined in the sacred service at ten a.m., conducted by an Episcopal minister. A lady aboard led the singing in the grand and solemn service...
August 4th, 1862. To-day five of the band were reported sick, among them T. D. Grant, the leader. I reported the fact to General Welsh, but the general gave orders that the band must play for dress parade, or turn in our horns to the quartermaster, and get muskets for them. The band came to the conclusion that the horns were worth more than the guns, so the trade was off, and when the time came the band was ready and reported for duty, and played "Hail Columbia" five times during the dress parade. It was quite amusing and passed off as a joke in the general; but he never said a word.
...September 14th, 1862. Heavy firing was heard ahead. We soon came in sight of the smoke on South Mountain. Our brigade was ordered up the mountain and overtook the enemy half was up, when a general engagement took place. Our band went into action at the head of our regiment, the Forty-fifth, playing "Rally Around the Flag, Boys," and continued up the mountain opposite the corn field on the left. At that point the band was ordered out of the line by General Reno, who was killed later on. The fight was severe and the loss heavy on both sides. The rebels retreated toward the Potomac River.
September 17th, 1862. The Battle of Antietam was fought on Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Md., and began early in the morning and continued until evening. The battle was fought with great determination. During the night the rebels retreated, leaving thousands of dead and wounded prisoners. The band was on duty at the hospital, rendering good service, and received many compliments from General Burnside and others for marching up the hill at the head of the regiment.
On September 29th the band severed its connection with the regiment and prepared to leave for home. We walked down to Sandy Hook, above Harpers Ferry, where we sold one of our horns to a New Hampshire band, and used the proceeds for something to eat. We had some trouble to get transportation to Baltimore, where we were paid off. After all our trouble in getting transportation it was secured through the kindness of that grand old soldier, Major General Burnside.
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