1883 History of Pike County Biography:

WILLIAM IRVINE - Among the oldest settlers of Pike County, is the subject of our sketch. He was born in Logan County, Kentucky January 9, 1804, the son or Robert and Rachel (Hill) Irvine. They started for Pike County, in 1818, on horseback leading a pack horse. His mother died along the way; they camped several times among the Indians. On their arrival in this county the father, Robert Irvine, hired an old hunter named Charles Wells to guide him to a good location. He took him near Ashley, two miles north east where he located, having some three or four slaves that he brought with him. The country then was but sparsely settled, and they went to mill at St. Charles on horseback. There were then some Indians in this county, but they were friendly. Bears were frequently met with. Our subject killed four bears before he was grown to manhood. He was married to Catharine House, daughter of Nimrod House, one of the pioneers of Pike County, who settled in Indian township in 1823, with his slaves. Our subject settled in Indian township in 1823; he was among the first settlers in the western part of the county; they did their trading at Louisiana. When our subject left home his father gave him a negro boy, which was all the start he had. He entered wild land from the government. He was at one time extensively engaged in raising swine, that he fattened on mast; he at one time, in 1820, sold 115 hogs to a Galena, Illinois man, that were driven through to that place on foot. Wolves destroyed for him several young pigs. The old hogs would generally fight for the protection of their young. He has been very successful financially, acquiring a large amount of land and money; he has had several thousand dollars stolen from him. He never attended school, but learned study, practice, and observation at home. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine are the parents of a large family of children: Melvina IRVINE, William R. IRVINE, Mary Ann "Polly" LAMBURTH, Rachel Jane LAIN, Medora "Dora" SOUTH, Robert James IRVINE, Elizabeth HANSON, John Wesley IRVINE, and Jesse IRVINE.