----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 08/23/1923

Irvine, Mr./Mrs. William S. (19 Augl 1923)

The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Irvine was celebrated in a quiet way Sunday Aug. 19, 1923, at their home in Owen, Clark County, Wis. Only their children and their families were present. Few of the pioneers of Clark County have done more for this county's development in a material way, of which they did their full share, but they did much more than this, assisting in many ways to build up a better social and religious life in the community, working for better educational advantages and better political policies. Now in the afternoon of life they have retired to their quiet home in Owen.

W. S. Irvin was born in Maryland, March 18, 1851, his parents being natives of Scotland. At an early age he came west to Trempeleau Co. and started to work as a raftsman on the Mississippi River, attending school only in winter. When 16 years of age he joined an expedition to go to California to seek gold. They crossed the plains and Rocky Mountains, but on account of the hostility of the Indians, turned back on reaching Salt Lake City. He stopped in Iowa on his return, attending school again and working on the river. When still quite young, only 19 years of age, he came to Clark County and began work for the logging firm of W. W. Crosby & Co. He worked that winter on east Fork and the next summer went with a crew to the town of Unity to clear land for the Crosby Co. Roads were almost impassable, but after a series of adventures the crew reached their destinations and that summer cleared 60 acres of land. On Aug. 17, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Irvine were married and settled on their farm in the town of Beaver. Mrs. Irvine, whose maiden name was Eliza Roscoe, was born Dec. 4, 1848, in West Bend Township, Washington Co., Wis. She was the first woman to arrive at Unity Station when the railroad was built through there, and had all the experiences of pioneer life in the wilderness, and in all their experiences of home and community development, she was a faithful assistant for Mr. Irvine. His natural ability and sterling character soon made him a factor in local affairs. He was a member of the local school board for 20 years, chairman of the town of Beaver for 16 or 18 years. In 1902 he was elected on the Republican Ticket as Member of Assembly and was reelected in 1904. His record in the Legislature was excellent. He was a champion of many good measures and won a large measure of esteem and for five successive sessions of the legislature he was appointed Sergeant-at-arms of the Assembly. In 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Irvine sold the old farm in Beaver and moved to Loyal, where they lived till two years ago, when they sold their home there and establish their new home in Owen. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine were …..(the rest of my copy was cut off)