Reverend James S. Ervin, merchant, and a native of what was then Lincoln, but is now Moore County, Tennessee, was born April 4, 1832, and is a son of James S. and Jemimah (Merrill) Ervin. The parents were natives of North Carolina, and immigrated to this county in 1816 and 1818, respectively. The father was an industrious farmer, and died November 7, 1881; the mother followed November 9 of the same year.
Our subject remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, when he married Catherine Womack, November 7, 1849, a native of Bedford County. The fruits of this union were sixteen children, twelve of whom are still living. The mother of these children died April 5, 1880, and September of the same year Mr. Ervin was united in marriage to Rebecca Dillingham, a native of this county. In 1855 our subject moved to Bedford County and followed agricultural pursuits until 1866, when he came to this county and located on the farm where he has since resided. He has a fine tract of 150 acres at County Line, and also has another farm in the county of 130 acres.
In 1869 he engaged in merchandising in County Line, and has continued that business ever since. In 1857 he was ordained minister in the Baptist Church, of which he and his family are worthy members. Politically he has always been identified with the Democratic Party, and is a strong advocate of temperance.