I. A. CORWIN, one of Covington's well known citizens who is agent for the Miami Valley Gas and Fuel Company, at this point, was born at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, February 29, 1836, and is a son of John R. and Sarah (Miller) Corwin.

In his infancy, the parents of Mr. Corwin moved from Urbana to Addison, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter trade with his father. When nineteen years old he accepted a position as clerk in a dry goods store at Urbana, where he worked for four years, and then came to Covington as manager of a branch store for the firm of Brown & Price, of Urbana. His management of the Covington branch was entirely satisfactory, but within a year the firm got into difficulties and made an assignment. The call for troops when the Rebellion broke out found the young clerk one of the first patriots to respond, his enlistment taking place on April 19, 1861, as a member of Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, four days after the call was made. He served a little over three months and then returned to Covington, but re- enlisted on March 1, 1862, entering Company I, Sixty first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served a little less than two years when he was discharged for disability, and came home to recuperate. On May 10, 1864, Mr. Corwin again entered the Federal service, becoming second lieutenant of Company I, 147th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry , serving 100 days and receiving his third honorable discharge. One of his most highly prized possessions is a certificate of honorable military service which bears the signature of the revered Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Corwin has been active in Grand Army circles and was a charter member of Langston Post, No. 299.

Mr. Corwin has been a continuous resident of Covington since the close of his military life. He entered into partnership with E. D. Simes, in the carpenter business, and this association lasted for thirteen years, and after the firm was dissolved he continued individual work for another thirteen years. Mr. Corwin can point out many substantial specimens of his construction work during the twenty-six years that he labored as a carpenter at Covington, his skill being very generally recognized by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Corwin was married to Miss Margaret E. Orr, a daughter of Josiah Orr and a sister of Col. Orr, of Piqua. Four children were born to this marriage, namely: John Sherman, who resides at Covington; Sybil, who died in 1874, was the wife of Walter Hill; Olive, who died in 1873; and William P., who is engaged in the gas business at South Charleston, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Corwin are members of the Christian Church. He has been identified with the Masonic fraternity for forty-four years and is a trustee of Covington Lodge, in which he has taken all the degrees. Being one of the older residents of Covington, he has been a witness of its remarkable development and, in as far as he has been able, he has furthered the good work. He is still actively engaged in business and has an unusually wide circle of personal friends.