Son of James and Lucinda McWhorter Corbin.
Aged 75 yrs 4 mos 20 days.
from WA State Death Certificate

Joshua McWhorter Corbin was born while his parents James and Lucinda McWhorter Corbin were living in Illinois. He was their first child, the eldest of eight children. His brothers and sisters included: John Anderson Corbin, Louisa "Lecicy Angeline", James M., Mahala "Hallie", Hampson Corbin and Charlotte and Nettie Corbin.

By the time Joshua was 7 years old, the family moved to Boone County Iowa, where he grew into adulthood, and Joshua enlisted as a Union Soldier in Boonesborough, Iowa. Below is his service record, added by Carolyn Farnum.

Joshua M. Corbin
Residence Boonesborough IA; 23 years old.
Enlisted on 11/30/1861 as a Corporal.
On 12/14/1861 he mustered into "D" Co. IA 16th Infantry
He was discharged for disability on 1/22/1863 at Keokuk, IA

Promotions:
* Private (Reduced to ranks)
* Corpl 1/28/1862
Other Information:
born in Ohio
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion
- Sixteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteers: Roster
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

After his service to the country, Joshua became a school teacher. On May 10, 1861, he married his beloved, Martha Ann Borders. This union was blessed with twelve children. Their first born, James Byron Corbin, lived only a short time, the year of James' death, Benjamin Homer Corbin, was born, while they were living in Sac County Iowa.

Joshua and his family moved to Sumner County Kansas, where Janet Cora, John Casswell, Clarence Howard, and Joshua Devern Corbin were born. Here, Joshua McWhorter Corbin continued his profession as a school teacher. While living in Kansas, he obtained 2 Land Patents in Sumner County.

The following information was obtained from the book, A History of Jerauld County South Dakota, written by N.J. Dunham.

The Corbins arrived in Jerauld County Marlar Township, South Dakota in 1883. They were amongst many pioneer families that settled there. In May of 1884, the newcomers to this raw territory were staking their claims, and of course among them were J M Corbin, and his wife Martha (Borders) Corbin. The Corbin's were on the tax list by June of 1884.

One of many board meetings was held, and on January 14, 1884, they began trying to appoint candidates for several offices to be filled. The candidates for county surveyor were H.J. Wallace, and J M Corbin. School elections were to commence, and the judges picked for district number 1 were J M Corbin, J J Groub and John Calvert.

On February 5, 1884 the commissioners established road districts of the County and appointed road overseers for the different districts. Joshua M. Corbin was appointed overseer in #1. District 1 included a Director, WS Scofield, a Clerk, J M Corbin; and a Treasurer, Ambrose Baker. All officers were elected without opposition.

On May 4 1884, Joshua M Corbin was appointed to a committee of three for Marlar Township.

On September 6, 1884 the 1st delegate convention of the Republican Party of Jerauld County met. The County ticket nominated included Register of Deeds, Probate Judge, Clerk of Courts, and many others including Surveyor-J M Corbin. Later the "peoples ticket" again included J M Corbin as Surveyor, and on November 4, 1884 he was voted in as County Surveyor.

By January 6 of 1885, Joshua Corbin was on the Board of Directors, for the Stock Holders of the Jerauld County Fair Association. J M Corbin was Surveyor for 4 years, and was re-elected in 1888. Many of the political efforts made in Jerauld and surrounding counties were to try to induce congress to admit South Dakota into the Union. Which for all their efforts, their determination, finally paid off.

Mr. Corbin, (Joshua) for many years was a popular teacher among the Indians on the western reservations, but retained his residence in Marlar Township.

The Corbins endured many hardships in the early days of their lives in South Dakota, such as a terrible fire in 1889, when they lost all of their livestock, and out buildings. It was Martha that saved their home. She carried dry dirt and threw it up on each spark as it caught upon the roof and sides of the house. The author of this book mentioned that the fire came so suddenly, and the extent was so great that the people had no opportunity to help each other.

The author returns to Jerauld County in 1908 to visit the residents, in particular the early settlers of 1883. He mentions the boys, Cass Corbin, Marion Corbin, and Sidney Corbin, and their sisters. In his last visit with them he also recalls that in 1884 the Corbins lived in a "dug out" as pioneers and here, in 1908 they are in a large well furnished house. (End of quotes from the book)

In Jerauld County, the rest of he and Martha's children were born: Wilbur Eugene, Ruby Rex, Cecil Pearl, Sidney Wallace, and Goldie May.

By 1900, they were living at the Pine Ridge Indian Agency in Meyer, South Dakota. Here, Joshua taught at the school, and Martha was the housekeeper.

In 1910, Joshua was retired and he and Martha, and a few of their children and grandchildren had relocated to Tacoma, Washington. From there, Martha and Joshua moved into the "Old Soldiers Home" in Orting, Pierce, Washington, where he passed away on March 25, 1915.