Kentucky:  A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 
1886.  Metcalfe County.

MRS. MARTHA L. IRVIN was born in Metcalfe (then Barren) County, July 12, 
1844.  Her father, John Forbes, was born about 1814, also in Metcalfe 
County (then Barren), Ky., where he died about 1855. He was a son of 
John Forbes, who was a native of Virginia and of English descent.  John 
Forbes was twice married; his first wife, whom he married in 1835, was 
Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Susan (Irvin) Bunnel.  To this union 
were born Louisa (Smith), Sarah (Garvin), Martha L., (our subject), 
Margaret (Bishop) and Charles G.  He was next married to Nancy Jewell.  
Our subject was married, November 15, 1863, to Joel, son of William and 
Sarah (Forbes) Irvin.  He was born March 2, 1822.  To them were born 
John W., Dora B. and Charles.  Mrs. Irvin has at present 128 acres of 
productive land, besides which she has one of the best houses in her 
section.  She has been for twenty-two years a member of the Christian 
Church.

Irvin Bishop Bunnel Forbes Garvin Jewell Smith
=
Barren VA
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/metcalfe/irvin.ml.txt