JOHN F. ERVIN.

Among the worthy citizens of Eldorado, Ohio, whose residence has contributed in no small degree to the well-being and happiness of the people of that town is John F. Ervin, a retired contractor and a justice of the peace. Mr. E:rvin would be the last man to become the subject of fancy sketches, nevertheless, his life presents incidents that are interesting and valuable and which may be studied with profit by the young men, whose careers are yet to be made. In every way Mr. Ervin is deserving of the confidence which has been placed in him by his neighbors, and is worthy of the high esteem in which they hold him.

John F. Ervin was born on December 17, 1842, in Highland county, Ohio, the son of Peyton and Margaret (Young) Ervin. Peyton Ervin was born in Augusta county, Virginia, and migrated with his parents to Highland county, Ohio. His wife was also a native of Virginia, who moved with her parents to Wayne county, Indiana, where Mr. and Mrs. Ervin were married, immediately after which they came to Preble county, locating one and one-half miles northeast of New Paris on a farm which Harry W. Bragg now owns. Peyton Ervin lived there until 1860, in which year he moved to Jefferson township, where he spent the rest of lhis life. He and his wife were the parents of four children: John F., the subject of this sketch; Thomas N., who served one hundred days in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now deceased; James H., of Jefferson township, and Harriett J., the wife of Raper Christman, of Washington township, this county.

John F. Ervin spent his boyhood days on the farm in Jefferson township, where he attended school. He enlisted in Company C, Fiftieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Intantry, in August, 1862, and was assigned to the Twenty-third( Army Corps. He was wounded at Peach Tree creek, Gerogia, July 20, 1864, and this wound disabled him until December 15, 1864. On that date he re-entered the service and served until the close of the war. He was at the famous battle of Nashville. After the war Mr. Ervin returned to the old homestead.

John F. Ervin was married to Sarah F. Murray, the daughter of Mitchell A. and Lydia (Brasier) Murray, to which union two sons and a daughter were born: William A., who is a resident of Eldorado, married Myrtle Barr; Minnie M., who is the wife of William A. McClure, and Plennie F., who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. The mother of these children died in 1906, and Mr. Ervin married, secondly, Mrs. Sarah M. Jones, who was bom in West Virginia, October 19, 1855. Her first husband, Henry Jones, died in 1904. She had two children by her first marriage, one of whom is living, Maude, the wife of Isaac Hanes, of Daytron, Ohio.

Mr. Ervin is a Republican and has served his community efficiently for some time as justice of the peace. He also is a notary public and has served as township clerk. He served six years on the county soldiers' relief commission. In all of these positions Mr. Ervin has proved eminently able to discharge the duties imposed upon him. He is a member of Judy Shewmon Post No. 747, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a past-commander of the same. He also is a member of Fort Black Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of New Madison.

Mrs. Ervin is a devoted member of the Christian church. Mr. and Mrs. Ervin are both highly respected in the community in which they live and eminently deserve the high regard in which they are held by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Source: "History of Preble County, Ohio" ¹⁰²