Andrew Irvine

Andrew Irvine, "the tanner," was born in Northumberland county. Pa., May 28, 1789. He was the eldest son of John Irvine and Mary Fullerton (Mrs. Thomas), his mother being his father's third wife. Page 108

His grand-parents* were natives of Scotland, but emigrated to Ireland where his father, John, was born.

John Irvine was an Episcopalian, took the oath of allegiance to Kin-g George, came to America and settled near Milton in Northumberland county.

When Andrew was seven years old his father died, and he at that early age earned his first money at a ferry nearby. His mother carefully hoarded his earnings and with them bought an iron stew-pot with a cover, famous in those days for cooking pot-pie. This became a part of his scanty kitchen furniture when he set up house-keeping, and still remains in the family. He enjoyed the usual short term of winter school, but acquired the rudiments of learning sufficiently , for business purposes. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Mr. Snyder, a tanner. Here he faithfully served his time, and as well learned to speak the German language - an accomplishment of which he was very proud, and ever retained. In 1812 he and his brother, Guy C . volunteered in the American army. Upon being disbanded in the fall of 1812, Andrew came home by the headwaters of the Susquehanna, passing the village of Meansville. The place, at that day, was more remarkable for three streams of water running through it, than anything else it possessed. The center stream caught the eye of Andrew as the spot to locate a tannery. Accordingly he purchased a half-acre of ground of Wm. Means and erected a log house thereon, two stories high. In the upper room he cooked his meals and slept, using the lower room for a shop. Mr. Irvine's lot extended from one door south of where M. E. Rosenfield's store now is to Patton's block. His log house stood about thirty-five feet below Main street, back of the place now known as " Tidd's Hotel." The tannery was situated on the creek, north and east of the log house. " While Mr. Irvine was engaged in digging a well, in Sept., 1813, strange sounds, like the distant roar of cannon, were heard. It was the day of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, but could not be accounted for at the time."

In Sept. 1814, he married Catharine McAffee, daughter of Maj. James McAffee, of Turbot, Northumberland Co., Pa. Mr. Irvine prospered in all his undertakings, assisted in no small degree by his self-denying wife, who bore the privations ,of her lot, to carry out his schemes, with a cheerfulness and happy spirit worthy of all praise. He was a man of untiring energy, and was distinguished for his good judgment and sterling integrity. From 1824 to 1826 he was County Treasurer and again in 1830 and '31. In 1828 he built a two-story brick house, the first in Towanda. This building stood on the ground now occupied by Tidd's hotel. Mr. Irvine did an extensive business for that day, and combined lumbering with tanning. Barter was then used in all grades of business, as may be seen from the following: "The subscriber has on hand a quantity of soal (sole?) and upper leather, which he will dispose of on reasonable terms for cash or green hides. Good wheat and shingles will be no taken in exchange if delivered at the subscriber's tan-yard in Towanda." "AND'W. IRWIN." Bradford Gazette, Aug. 9, 1813.

Afterwards he became a farmer on the " Pine Plains," where he owned a farm on the bank of the river. He was a partner with Simon Kinney and David Cash in the ownership of land bought of Shephard and Dorrance, covering the greater portion of the hill-side of the borough of Towanda, and stretching down to the river south of the Public Square. He also owned lots north and west of the village. In order to better his fortunes and those of his children, Mr. Irvine moved with his family to Warren Co. Pa., in 1836. Having purchased a large tract of land, he engaged actively in lumbering. The patrimonial estate is still in possession of the family, "producing oil for subsistence and gas for light and heat - an unlooked for means of wealth and comfort."

Mr. Irvine died Jan. 4, 1853. He was a prominent Free Mason, and belonged to one other society in which he was styled the " Grand Sachem," a name that clung. to him. In politics he was an active Democrat, and was fearless in declaring his principles. Of his family four children are yet living.

His eldest child. Miss Jane D. Irvine, born Oct. 15, 1815, is claimed to have been the first child born within the original borough limits. County Treasurers- " "Jan., 1823 Andrew Irvine " "Jan., 1827-28 Alpheus Ingham Andrew Irvine

Children of Andrew and Catherine McAffee Irvine;

Source:
History of the Towanda's, 1770-1886. Including the aborigines, Pennamites, and Yankees; together with biographical sketches and matters of general importance connected with the county seat by Heverly, Clement Ferdinand; MacAfee, Reid Dana , Page 107