David S. Irwin’s father was Jonathan. Jonathan was the twin brother of David Irwin, Sr. David, St. also had a son he named David, Jr. David, Sr. built the stone house on Homerich Avenue in 1875.

Belinda Thompson-Irwin was born on what was called the Joseph Skinner farm 1 ½ miles west and about 1 mile north of Byron Center in the year 1856. Her mother died when she was but 12 days old. She had 3 brothers and 2 sisters older than herself. At the time of her mother’s death, her foster parents, the Russell Thompson’s, took her and brought her up. They lived a mile north and about a half a mile west of Baker’s Corner.

Mrs. Irwin attended the old frame school house at Byron Center. In the spring and gall she came to school under great difficulties, the swamp north being almost impassable at times. And it was necessary to step from bog to bog or rather jump. She attended school at Winchester a few terms and recalls that Amos Smith, brother of Oscar Smith, was her school teacher a term or two.

In the good old days, she calls to mind that people took time to be neighborly. For instance, John Concidine, Sr., used to come to her foster father’s early in the evening, remaining until 12 or 1 o’clock in the morning, just visiting. Mrs. Thompson would get supper and there would be biscuits, or griddle cakes, perhaps, with delicious maple syrup to make the meal appetizing.

Mrs. Irwin was married in 1875 to David S. Irwin, who lived a mile and a half north of the village. They lived with the Russell Thompsons about a year after their marriage and then they built a house across the road and lived there about 2 years. Afterward, they purchased an acre of Mr. Thompson and moved their house onto it. From here they went to Byron Center, living across from Mrs. Utter.

In this location Mr. Irwin owned and operated a blacksmith shop for about 25 years. At the same time he built several houses in the vicinity. When his health began to break, the family moved to a 10-acre farm just north of town. Mr. Irwin was sick about 2 years and died in 1923 at the age of 77.

To them were born 7 children. Three of these did not live to maturity, Millie (age 14), Lee Evan (age 7 ) dying in a diptheria epidemic that swept the town and claimed its toll of young lives. See also the stone for Owen, less than a year old.

This writer visited the youngest son, Leslie, and his mother in her village home recently. She found Mrs. Irwin very good company and entertaining as well, cheerful and happy in her home surroundings. She often reviews the past, but finds the present a good time in which to live and evidently enjoys the scenes and locality in which she passed her life.

Belinda was also 77 when she died.

(Taken from a story in the Byron Center Progress, no date)

Just to the west on another Marshall stone you can see tree logs and an anchor on the base of the family monument.

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 26 December 2002
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/townships/byron/pioneers/irwind.html