His name is also listed as Irvin, Erwin and Irving, with Ervin on his military records and headstone.
In 1885, he is listed at age 10 with the family of Wm H. Shaffen and wife Rachel on their farm.
Prior to his enlistment, he was living in Clarenceville, NY where he returned following his service.
He enlisted with Battery Co K, 7th Reg’t of the US Artillery on 16 Mar 1898 in Brooklyn NY, during the Spanish American War. The 1900 census lists him with the artillery at Fort Schuyler in New York Harbor.
This became the 80th Co US Coast Artillery in Feb 1901 and he was subsequently discharged at the rank of Sgt on 15 Mar 1901 from Fort Schuyler NY.
He reenlisted the next day, on 16 Mar 1901 in the same Co. at Fort Schuyler, NY where he served until his discharge 15 Mar 1904 at the rank of Quarter Master Sgt.
He reenlisted 11 Apr 1904 at Kansas City, MO in Co G 15th US Infantry and was in a hospital with pneumonia in San Francisco shortly thereafter. He was discharged 31 July 1905 as a Sgt from the Presidio of Monterey, CA.
He reenlisted again on 1 Aug 1905 at the Presidio of Monterey, CA in the same Co and was discharged 31 July 1908 as a Sgt at Fort Douglass, Utah.
He returned home to New York and lived at 147 Henry St, Brooklyn NY until 16 Nov 1912 when he entered the Metropolitan Hospital of NY. He was later moved to the National Soldier’s Home, Johnson City, Washington Co, Tenn. on 28 Mar 1913.
He subsequently filed for an Invalid Pension on 7 Apr 1913, while in the National Soldier’s Home hospital (File# 1409262). He originally filed on the basis of partial deafness due to firing of the guns, a hernia resulting from appendicitis surgery at the site of the scar, and “bad lungs and a cough”. His lawyer petitioned for expedition of the case due to his serious medical condition on 17 Oct 1913, and it was approved a week later on October 23rd - the day he died of tuberculosis.
He was described as 5’ 9 3/4” tall, 118 lbs, blue eyes, light brown hair, fair complexion.