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Page 31
The Erwin Lines
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Map of upper St. Lawrence County, New York, showing Louisville
John Spears Erwin was born in Louisville, St. Lawrence Co., New York, on
the 19th of August, 1807. St. Lawrence County is in the northern part of the
state, extending from the St. Lawrence River between Chippewa Bay and Hogansburg
southeast to about Tupper Lake in the Adirondack Mountains.
Although the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, History of Boone Co,
published in 1909, states that John Spears Erwin was a native of Canada, family
records indicate that this is in error. It
is entirely possible, however, that John's parents, or at least one of them,
came from Canada. It is believed
that his father's name was John, but nothing whatever is known about him.
It is believed that his mother was Hannah Spears, born about 1775,
although there is some question about her name as well.
At least one source indicates that her name might have been Hannah Sharp.
In a letter written by John's brother William Erwin in 1839, there is
mention of a mental 'derangement' on the part of their mother.
John Spears had a brother William and a sister Mary, who married
Christopher Burrell. There is
considerable evidence to support the idea that they had relatives in Canada.
Family records indicate that John and William moved to Canada sometime
after John was born and lived there for some time.
The records state that William, in particular, was teaching school in
Toronto, Canada in 1839. It is not
known whether they stayed in one location during all of this time, but
we do know that John arrived in Boone County, Illinois
about 1838.
