David Fife Irving was born in Arbroah Forfarshire Scotland on April 15, 1833.  Irving settled in Thomson in 1856 by way of Quebec, Canada and Augusta, Georgia.  He married Mary E. Knox of Columbia County in May 1859.  He was a tanner and shoemaker, and when the Civil War broke out he was called, but on his journey was stopped and sent back to tan leather and make shoes for the Confederacy.  After the war, he settled in Thomson and built a dry goods store across from the Knox Hotel (later Hadaway’s Store).  He served on the Thomson School Board for 17 years, serving as President for 14 years.  Mr. and Mrs. Irving had eight children, three of whom died in infancy.

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