William L. Ervin

    William L. Ervin, one of the leading citizens of Blackford County, was born in Delaware County, Indiana, June 22, 1849. His father, Samuel Ervin, was a native of Maryland, and came to Indiana in his youth, where he was married to Jane H. Yate, who was a native of New York.

    When our subject was an infant his parents moved to Blackford County, and here he was reared. In 1864, when but fifteen years old, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and served until December 13, 1865. He participated in the battles at Buzzard Roost (where he received a scalp wound by a minie ball), Resacca, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, Atlanta, Pine Mountain, Lovejoy's Station, Rome, Nashville and Kingston.

    After his return home he attended school at Hartford City and Ridgeville, and then for some time was engaged in teaching. In 1871 he located on the farm where he now lives, which contains 100 acres of good land under a fine state of cultivation. His improvements are among the best in the township, and everything about his home indicates a thrifty and enterprising owner.

    Mr. Ervin was married December 29, 1870, to Henrietta Slater, a daughter of James Slater. They have had five children, four of whom are living -Satira Jane, Aurora Blanche, Oscar Slater and Thomas Waldo. Robert Franklin is deceased.

    Mr. Slater (I believe they meant Mr. Ervin, as that would be consistent with the other biographies found in this publication) is in politics a Republican, with prohibition principles. He is a member of Jacob Stahl Post, G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a class-leader. He is a prominent citizen, and has always taken an active interest in the material welfare of the county, especially anything that tends toward the advancement of education and Christianity.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.