William Corwan was a pioneer Baptist elder, a member of the first Baptist Association organized in this part of Indiana. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and later became a resident of Ohio, where he was married and where he resided until 1838 when he left his home in Columbiana county, that state, and came to Indiana, locating at Deerfield, in Randolph county, whence he presently moved up into Jay county and settled in Knox township, where he spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring on September 17, 1847.
In addition to his service as a missionary of the Baptist church William Corwin was an expert blacksmith and thus was able to render double service in the pioneer community. He was twice married and by his first marriage was the father of four children. His first wife died at Deerfield, in Randolph county. By his union with Mrs. Mary (Gray) Hudson he was the father of two sons, Cornelius and Stephen Corwin.
SOURCE: Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County
Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II, pp.96-99.
Transcribed by Eloine Chesnut