John Irvine, Sr. | |
---|---|
Full name |
John Irvine |
Presence at Shimer | |
Presence on Earth |
1790–1873 |
Role(s) |
Seminary period trustee |
Rev. John Irvine, Senior was a founding Trustee of Shimer College, at the dawn of the Seminary period. He was one of the first merchants in Mount Carroll.
Irvine came to Mount Carroll in 1845 with his first wife, Mary Irvine, and their two children, Mary and John. Their daughter, Mary Irvine Hostetter, married John Lichty Hostetter. The Irvines were among the first members of the local Methodist congregation, and Irvine was the first regular minister.
Irvine's second wife, Amanda M. Irvine, was a close friend of Frances Shimer and Cindarella Gregory in the Seminary's early years.
Shimer connections[]
- Father of alum William Irvine
- Stepfather of alum Emily Seaman
Profiled[]
Mentioned[]
- in Volney Armour, [1], 1876:
- Until that good old saint, Father Irvine, came in 1845, religion was at a low ebb. There was occasionally one of the lost sheep of Israel to be found, but they were not numerous. Whether a Sunday School had been started before Mr. Irvine came is uncertain; that there was one soon after is certain. A short time previous to 1847, the Presbyterian Home Mission Society had placed Calvin Gray in the field, in this County. He first stopped at Savanna but came to Mount Carroll in 1845 or 1846. The Methodists had a mission here also; one Rev. Samuel Smith was the missionary in 1847. In that same year S. J. Campbell settled in Mount Carroll. At that time, there were but five members of that church in Mount Carroll. No other church had as many. They were John Irvine, Sr., Mary Irvine, his wife, Harlin Pyle and his wife, Elizabeth, and S. J. Campbell.
- in "Methodist Episcopal Church", Mount Carroll Democrat of 1898-03-16, p. 3:
- The Mt. Carroll Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1839, but up to 1847 continued as a Mission, and meetings were held in the old court house. About 1851 there was a great revival and building up of the church which resulted in erecting the building now known as Cole’s opera house. Rev. Miles L. Reed was pastor at that time and the first regular minister, Rev. John Irvine, Sr., was the first class leader and Sabbath school superintendent, but he held the latter position three months when S. J. Campbell was selected to fill the position.
Further inquiry[]
- Connection to the firm of Irvine & Robinson (Pittsburgh), early investor in the Emmert & Halderman mill?
- Connection to various Seminary alums by the last name of Irvine, e.g. Elisabeth Irvine of the class of 1878?
References[]
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