Samuel Erwin was born Oct. 19, 1820, in New Castle County, Del., a son of John and Elizabeth (Platt) Erwin, the former of Irish and the latter of English descent. When eight years old he came to Wayne County, Ind., where he experienced all the phases of pioneer life. He first attended the log-cabin schools, and completed his education at the schools of Richmond.
He was married in 1842, to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Sibyl (Cook) Shute, who came from New Jersey to Wayne County, Ind., in 1818, where her father owned 900 acres of land, and built the first brick house in his neighborhood. He followed farming through life, and died in February, 1857, in Covington, Ky., where he resided for many years. His wife died in Cincinnati, in February, 1847. Mr. Erwin has followed agricultural pursuits through life, and his farm contains 190 acres of fine land. He also owns a farm of 415 acres in Elkhart County, Ind., all well improved. Mr. Erwin and wife are members of the Society of Hicksite Friends.
His father came to Wayne County, Ind., in 1828, and bought 200 acres of land in what is now Wayne Township. At the end of five years he sold his farm, and established an iron foundry in Lafayette, Ind., doing a successful business for several years. He at one time owned 1,000 acres in Randolph County. Ind. He died Nov. 19, 1849, in his sixty-eighth year. His wife died July 4, 1846, aged sixty years. They had twelve children, six still living---Lydia, John W., Susan B., Samuel, Edwin and William P.
