Background
He was born on January 15, 1840 in Madrid, Saint Lawrence County, New New York A year later, he succeeded his father-in-law as partner in the law firm of Dart & Tappan, and practiced for ten years under the firm name of Tappan & Erwin.
He was born on January 15, 1840 in Madrid, Saint Lawrence County, New New York A year later, he succeeded his father-in-law as partner in the law firm of Dart & Tappan, and practiced for ten years under the firm name of Tappan & Erwin.
He was educated at Saint Lawrence Academy at Potsdam, New New York He graduated from Middlebury College in August, 1865. He studied law with the then United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York William A. Dart and Charles O. Tappan, and was admitted to the bar in 1867.
In 1884, allied with Thomas C. Platt, he was a strong candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by Titus Sheard, the candidate of the Warner Miller faction. The following year, the Platt faction was victorious, and Erwin was elected Speaker. In 1892-1893 he was the Republican minority leader of the State Senate.
To him is due the cr of organizing the dairy department for suppressing the sale and manufacture of oleomargarine.
He secured the enactment of the bill preventing the sale of liquor in quantities of five gallons or more in towns having no license. In 1891, he was Chairman of the Committee on General Laws and made interesting investigations into the subject of electricity for lighting and power.
In the session of 1892, when Republican leader, he made a strong but unsuccessful fight against the re-apportionment of the state, and for his refusal to vote on an enumeration bill he and two other senators were declared guilty of contempt by Lieutenant Government. William F. Sheehan and their names taken from the roll.
But they were supported by the judiciary committee in their position, were purged of contempt and their names restored.
He was interested in various local industries. He was one of the proprietors and organizers of the Thatcher Manufacturing Company, and up to the time of his death was its vice-president He helped to organize the High Falls Sulphite Pulp and Mining Company, and was its president
He died on January 16, 1894 in Potsdam, New York at age 54.
Erwin was a member of the New York State Assembly (Street Lawrence Company, 3rd Doctorate) in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1887. He was a member of the New York State Senate (20th Doctorate) from 1888 to 1893, sitting in the 111th, 112th, 113th, 114th, 115th and 116th New York State Legislature.
