Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

ALEX C. IRWIN

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 
            A man well-known throughout California is Alex C. Irwin, whose birth 
occurred in Montreal, Canada, on October 6, 1848.  He was reared and educated in 
Toronto, where his early life was spent.  Learning telegraphy, he was with the 
Grand Trunk Railway, and later came West to Elko, Nev., where he was with the 
Union Pacific.  Transferred from there to Marysville, in October, 1869, he acted 
as agent here for some time, and then, in 1872, went to San Francisco as auditor 
for the California Pacific Railway, with his office on the site of the Palace 
Hotel, before the original hotel building was erected.
            Returning to Marysville, Mr. Irwin entered the employ of the Buckeye 
Flour Mill; and later, in 1900, he engaged in the real-estate and insurance 
business, and also as public accountant.  He is now secretary of the 
Sutter-Butte Oil Company, and county expert for the oil industry in Yuba County, 
a comparatively new industry here, but one which bids fair to bring wealth and 
prosperity to this section of the State.
            Aside from his business interests, Mr. Irwin has found time to give 
to civic and State affairs.  From 1903 to 1910 he served as president of the 
California State Railroad Commission, at that time an elective office; he was 
supervisor of Yuba County three terms of four years each; and for eight years he 
served as a member of the Marysville board of education, and for two years as 
city councilman of Marysville, giving generously of his time and energy to 
forward in every possible way the best interests of his city, county and State.
            The marriage of Alex C. Irwin occurred in Marysville, Cal., and 
united him with Sue C. Lawrence, who was born in New York; and five children 
were born to them:  William L., Kate, wife of J. H. McClintock, of Sacramento; 
Sue, wife of Dr. R. E. Smith, of Sacramento; Lotta, wife of A. W. Gluckman, of 
Marysville; and Alex C., Jr., who died aged thirty-two years.
            A prominent Mason in the State, Mr. Irwin is a member of Corinthian 
Blue Lodge No. 9, of Washington Chapter, R.A.M., of Marysville Commandery, and 
of Islam Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of San Francisco; and he has held 
high office in all these branches of Masonry.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1279