Benjamin G. Irvin was born about 1800 in Greenbriar Co., Va. He probably married his wife Elizabeth there and resided in that area except for a year or two in Sullivan Co., Tenn., until their move to Harlan County about 1846. Elizabeth was born about 1802 in Virginia. It is possible that she was related to George Eager or his wife Sarah Clark as Benjamin and Elizabeth's son Hugh is listed in George Eager's family on Catrons Creek in the 1850 census of Harlan. It is thought he may have been a nephew of George or Sarah Eager.

Benjamin G. Irvin was stabbed with a pocket knife by Hezekiah Clem on July 7, 1860. Irvin was brought to his home the next day, but died on July 10, 1860. Clem was hung for the killing on Aug. 30, 1860. Elizabeth was still living in 1870, with her son Malen, but as she cannot be located in the 1880 census, it is presumed she died sometime during the decade between 1870 and 1880.

Benjamin and Elizabeth Irvin had five known children, four sons and one daughter. The oldest of these was Benjamin Franklin Irvin, born about 1826 during the family's brief sojourn in Sullivan Co., Tenn. His first wife was Nancy Lankford, born about 1825 in Claiborne Co., Tenn., daughter of Benjamin and Temperance Posey Lankford. Nancy is believed to have died shortly after her daughter Alabama's birth on Christmas Day of 1861. In 1868, Benjamin married again. His second wife was Louisa, daughter of Jeremiah and Polly Osborne Forrester. She had previously been married to Andrew C. Skidmore by whom she had a son, Leander.

By his first wife Benjamin had six known children: Sarah; William David, who married Fanny Ball; Hiram J., who married Mary `Maze' Scott; Benjamin and John C., who died in their childhood; and Alabama. By Louisa he had seven children: Mary Margaret, who married George Farley; Thomas B., who married Martha Hedrick; Joseph F.; Nancy Lucretia who married John J. Russell; Alpha, who married John J. Falrey; Elnora who married Lee Clark; and Theodocia. Benjamin Franklin Irvin died May 20, 1905, and is buried at Beech Grove Cemetery at Mary Alice on Catrons Creek.

Hugh Irvin was born about 1827 after the family's return to Virginia. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Moses and Elender Richardson Ball. Their first child, a daughter was born dead. They then had Andrew Jackson; Moses F.; George Washington; William R.; James J.; Sarah J., who married Ezekiel Smith; John; Emory who married Jane Clem; and Sarilda who married Henderson Fee.

William D. Irvin was born about 1829 in Tazewell Co., Va. He married Fanny Noe, believed to be a daughter (or niece) of Buford and Nancy Forrester Noe. In 1863, William signed up with Captain Henry Skidmore's company of the 47th Kentucky (Union) forces. In the roster, he is described as six feet, two inches tall, with a light complexion, blue eyes and light hair. According to the roster records, William deserted on May 1, 1864, but returned to his company on June 6. He was among many men who deserted their companies for a few weeks presumably to attend to the needs of their families.

According to a lawsuit filed after the war, William, along with fellow soldier, Francis Hall, following the orders of Nathan Noe, arrested Leonard Farmer, a prominent and apparently outspoken attorney who resided in Mount Pleasant, later known as the city of Harlan. Farmer alleged that they had assaulted him and taken him a prisoner without authority and that they had stolen his horse and weapons.

In their reply the defendants stated that after arresting Farmer in obedience to their commander's orders, Farmer desired to ride and so caught his horse and that when they took his arms from him, "said Farmer fled and made his escape from defendants leaving the arms and mare and they carried the same to their headquarters."

William and Fanny had a number of children but were living apart by the 1900 census. Their children included Buford; Nancy, who married Robert Wilson; Letitia; Jerusha; Arminta, who died at the age of 18; Martha; Emily; Easter; John; Grant; Mary and Louisa.

Benjamin and Elizabeth's only known daughter Eliza who born about 1835 in Virginia and married Nicholas Shell, born about 1827 in Tennessee, son of Samuel and Mary Ann Fry Shell. Nicholas appears to have been married first to Lydia, mother of his oldest son Silas W., born about 1849. It is certain that Eliza Irvin was the mother of the rest of Nicholas' children which include John S.; Rebecca; William; Elizabeth; Solomon; Nicholas; Mary Ann and Catharine. Nicholas and Eliza lived most of their lives in Leslie County.

The youngest of Benjamin and Elizabeth Irvin's children, Malon, was born about 1841 in Virginia. In 1862, he married Mary Jane, daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Creech. Their known children include Ezekiel who married Lucinda King; Benjamin; George W. who married Charlotte Neal; Luke; Eliza Louisa who married Robert Blanton; Margaret who married Stephen Blanton; Malen; Leonia who married Henry Neal; Sarah; and Scott.