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Linus L. Ireland
Born June 22, 1854 |
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Linus L. Ireland one of the successful farmers and substantial citizens of Madison township, was born in Champaign county, Illinois, June 22, 1854, and is a son of Purviance and Rebecca M. (Lyon) Ireland, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively. In the latter state the couple were married and shortly after their union removed to Champaign county, Illinois, where the father followed farming. In the spring of 1866, he moved his family to Jones county, Iowa, settling on a farm in Greenfield township. Although he subsequently made several changes, the greater part of his later life was passed in this county. In 1903, he departed this life, in Olin, where he was then residing, while his wife survived him about four years, being then seventy-four years of age-two years younger than her husband when he responded to the call of death. In politics Mr. Ireland was a republican, though never an office-seeker, and in religious matters he and his wife gave their allegiance to the Christian church, of which they were devout members. A few years before his death, however, Mr. Ireland's health failed him to such an extent that he was unable to attend its services.
Linus L. Ireland was reared at home and received his education in the common schools. Meager as this training might have been it was amply supplemented by practical experience in the fields, which laid the foundations for the success of his later years. Still a young man, scarcely out of his teens, Mr. Ireland married and established a home of his own. For four years he operated rented land and then bought a farm of sixty-five acres in Fairview township, this county. In three years he was convinced of the wisdom of disposing of that piece of property and again became a renter for a period of six years. In February, 1891, he purchased the farm on which he lives today. It is a fine tract, one hundred and forty acres in extent, fertile to begin with, but vastly improved since Mr. Ireland obtained possession of it, for he cultivates the soil in accordance with the most approved scientific methods and has erected buildings that are modern in every detail. As a result the farm is one of the richest and most valuable in Jones county.
On the 26th of May, 1873, Mr. Ireland was united in marriage to Miss Jennie S. Hamilton, of this county, who was born in Huron county, Ohio. Of this marriage there have been born nine children, seven of whom survive: Effie E., the wife of Benjamin McGuire, of Madison township; Lizzie L., the wife of Arthur G. Bender, also of that township; Millie M., who married Louis R. Buchholtz, a farmer of Madison township; and Viola V., Louis L., Alice A. and Grace G., who live at home.
Although he has been repeatedly urged to do so, Mr. Ireland has steadily refused to accept any office within the gift of the people. He takes an interest in public matters nevertheless, and is always at the polls on election days when his ballot is given to the candidates of the republican party. A man who has never shirked hard work, his success is equally due to his progressive methods and temper of his mind, which is ever receptive of the improvements that are being made in the appurtenances of farming as in other fields of business. Uprightness and honesty have distinguished his intercourse with his fellowmen and he is highly esteemed in his section and throughout the county.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 234. |
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