W. H. Irwin, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Prospect township, Butler county, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Jackson county, and is a son of W. H. and Catherine (Yost) Irwin. The father was a native of Missouri, also, and was born in Cape Girardeau county, March 15, 1833. W. H. Irwin and Catherine Yost were the parents of six children, as follows: Charles W., Boyce City, Idaho; Mrs. Ida E. Freeman, El Dorado, Kans.; George H., Augusta, Kans.; W. H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sophia M. Carter, El Dorado, and Mrs. Ella Kate Milburn.

The Irwin family came to Butler county, Kansas, in 1883, and the father bought 230 acres of land in Lincoln township, nine miles north of El Dorado, and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death, November 15, 1903. The wife and mother departed this life shortly after the family came to Kansas. She died in 1884.

W. H. Irwin, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Butler county, and received a good common school education. In 1903, he purchased his present place of 480 acres in Prospect township where he has since been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising, and is one of Butler county's prosperous and most progressive citizens.

Mr. Irwin was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Minnie Fox, a native of Morgan county, Indiana, born December 18, 1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Irwin have been born two children: Hazel and William H. Hazel is a student in the public school, and William H. bears the distinction of having won the silver loving cup at the kafir corn carnival, held at El Dorado in 1912, as the prize baby. The cup, which is of beautiful design, bears the following description, "To William Harold Irwin, Prettiest Baby, Kafir Corn Carnival Parade, October 18, 1912."

Mr. Irwin's generous spirit and courteous manner have won for him many friends. He has spent most of his life in Butler county, and those who know him best are his staunchest friends. He is public spirited and enterprising, and is always willing and ready to co-operate with any movement for the good of the general public.

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