Adam Irwin (1854 - 1903)

Adam Irwin was born on September 7, 1854 in the Townland of Claggan near the village of Ardtrea in County Tyrone, Ireland (Ulster). He was the son of David Irwin and Rachel Simpson. The Irwin family attended the local Presbyterian Church (probably Ballygoney Presbyterian Church). Around 1880, Adam left Ireland (Ulster) for Lancashire, England where he worked for the Valentine Family on their "North Tunley Farm". In 1881, Mr. Valentine decided to leave England for America (Michigan) and moved his entire family there leaving Adam to return one last time to his family in Ulster. After a short time there he decided to follow the Valentine Family to America and left on the ship "Parthia" with a friend. They arrived at the "Castle Garden" port of New York City on April 6, 1882. From there, Adam and his friend made their way to upstate New York at Buffalo from whence they crossed Ontario by train to Detroit and from there to Otter Lake, Michigan where John Valentine picked Adam up by buggy. Adam married the daughter of John Valentine, Susannah on April 18, 1883 at the Watertown Centre Methodist Episcopal Church in Watertown Township, Tuscola County, Michigan. Adam purchased a 40 acre farm in Section 15 of Watertown Township (equally close to Mayville and Fostoria). Adam and Susannah had 9 children including Rachel S., William, Susanne, Anna J., Eleanor, John K., Robert T., Edith M. and Ethel V. (who were twins). Adam was naturalized a U.S. citizen in 1888. He passed away on February 14, 1903 on his farm in Watertown Township and was laid to rest at Watertown Township Cemetary in Watertown Township, Tuscola County, Michigan

Gladys Helen Purser (1894 - 1948)

Gladys Helen Purser was born on March 2, 1894 in Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Albert James Purser and Jennie Smyth. At the age of 9 (1903) she moved with her family to Pontiac, Michigan, USA. She graduated from the original "Groves" Pontiac High School in 1912. She then attended and graduated from Albion College graduating in 1916. While in college she joined Delta Gamma sorority. She met and married Everett C. Russell at the Grand River Avenue Methodist Church in Detroit on April 3, 1924. She had 2 children including a son Robert C. and a daughter Barbara H. She was the past President of the Tuesday Musicale, member of the Colonial Group of the First Congregational Church of Pontiac and a member of the Pillar Club. She passed away on October 31, 1948 in Pontiac and was laid to rest at Perry Mount Park Cemetary in Pontiac, Michigan.

Everett Carleton Russell (1889-1958)

Everett Carleton Russell was born on August 7, 1889 in Kewanee, Henry County, Illinois. He was the son of John Benjamin Russell and Elsie Isabel Gunn. He graduated from Kewanee High School in 1907. He then attended Western State Teachers College, Northwestern University and Wheaton College where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1913. Mr. Russell taught in Bensonville, Illinois for 1 year (1913-1914) and drafting at Dubuque, Iowa for 8 + years (1914-1922). He enlisted and served for a time in the "Great Lakes Navy" during World War I. In February of 1922 he came to Pontiac, Michigan as a drafting teacher. While he was teaching he also did graduate work at the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit where he was a member of Iota Lamba Sigma (about 1922-1924). He met and married Gladys H. Purser at the Grand River Avenue Methodist Church in Detroit on April 3, 1924. He was the father of 2 children including Robert C. and Barbara H. In 1930 he became Supervisor of Trades and Industrial Arts (Pontiac) and in 1939 he became Director of Vocational Education (Pontiac High School) for the Pontiac School District from which he retired in June of 1955. While working in the Pontiac Schools he founded the Adult Night School Program and the Co-Op Extension program. Upon retirement he helped supervise the building of Royal Oak Kimball High School and the vocational department of Pontiac Northern High School. He was the President of the Pontiac Y.M.C.A. in 1950. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Pontiac, The National Council of City Directors, Pontiac Rotary, Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, and the Schoolmasters Club. He passed away on December 19, 1958 in Pontiac and was laid to rest at Perry Mount Park Cemetary in Pontiac, Michigan

Dorothy E. Callow (1899 - 1973)

Dorothy Eugenia "Jean" Callow was born on May 16, 1899 in Pontiac, Michigan. She was the daughter of Robert Callow and Elizabeth Lochlien and a life long member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, Michigan. She attended Pontiac High School and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Phi sorority. She graduated from Pontiac High School in 1917. She met and married John K. Irwin on November 16, 1920 in Pontiac, Michigan. She was the mother of 5 children including Russell who died in childbirth, John K. Jr., Richard M., Robert C., and Dorothy Jean. She and her husband moved to Bloomfield Township in 1956. She passed away on February 18, 1973 and was laid to rest in the Perry Mount Park Cemetary in Pontiac, Michigan.

John K. Irwin Sr. (1894-1966)

John K. Irwin Sr. was born on April 7, 1894 in Watertown Township (near Mayville) , Tuscola County, Michigan. He was the son of Adam Irwin and Susannah Valentine and a member of the Watertown Centre Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a graduate of Fostoria High School graduating the 10th grade in 1910. After high school he worked for awhile on the family farm and later moved to Pontiac, Michigan in 1914 to join a sister who already lived there where he first worked as a street car conductor while attending school at the Business Institute and later worked at the Pontiac Commercial & Savings Bank in downtown Pontiac. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I serving in "Battery D. 111 Field Artillery 29 Division" in France. He was honorably discharged and returned to Pontiac where he met and married Dorothy J. Callow on November 16, 1920 in Pontiac. He was the father of 5 children including Russell who died in childbirth, John K. Jr., Richard M., Robert C., and Dorothy Jean. He founded John K. Irwin & Sons Real Estate and Insurance Firm in Pontiac, Michigan in 1925. He was a former member of the Oakland County Board of Supervisors and past President of the Pontiac Board of Realtors, serving as a Director for 10 years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the National and Michigan Real Estate Associations, American Right of Way Association, Senior member of the Society of Residential Appraisers, Pontiac Lions Club, Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge No. 810, Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 1008 and the First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, Michigan. He passed away on February 21, 1966 at his office in Pontiac and was laid to rest in the Perry Mount Park Cemetary in Pontiac, Michigan.