Polk Co. IAGenWeb

ERWIN, W. A. - Grocer and confectioner, was born February 15, 1840, in Morgan county, Indiana, and when eleven years of age his parents removed to Illinois, where they resided some four years, and then removed to Iowa, locating in Warren county in 1852. After coming to Iowa, the subject of this sketch returned to Galesburg, Illinois, where he learned the trade of miller. During the war be served in company K, Nineteenth Iowa infantry, enlisting in July, 1862, and serving until the 18th of March, 1863, when he was discharged on account of wounds received at the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, receiving no less than three wounds in that battle, being disabled in the right arm, a ball passing through his right side and another going through his cap and grazing the top of his head. After leaving the service, he located at Mt. Pleasant, where he resided until 1867, when he came to Des Moines. He was married March 17, 1861, to Miss Margaret McCoy, of Mt. Pleasant. Have three children: Joseph, Elnora and Ada.