My Genealogy Hound

A. F. IRELAND. The occupation which this gentleman now follows has received his attention for many years, and it is but the truth to say that in it he is thoroughly posted and well informed, and his labors in this direction have contributed very materially to the reputation Cass County enjoys as a rich farming region. In connection with this, he has also been engaged in other occupations, but no matter what he has attempted, success has invariably followed. Like many of the most successful farmers of this locality, he is a native of the State, and was born in Berrien County in 1846, the son of Silas and Matilda (Michaels) Ireland.

Stephen Ireland, grandfather of our subject, was the son of John Ireland, who was probably a native of Maryland, and whose ancestors emigrated from Scotland at a period antedating the Revolutionary War. These ancestors settled in Maryland, and there Stephen first saw the light of day. He probably grew to manhood in that State, and became a farmer by occupation, but in connection was also engaged as a drover. When he had attained his majority he went to Ohio with his parents, and settled in Ross County, where he entered Government land. They cut the road to their farms and built a log cabin near a large spring, where they had an abundance of clear, cold water. He married in Ohio, and ten children were the fruits of this union, the father of our subject being the eldest in order of birth. In politics, Mr. Ireland was probably a Democrat.

Silas Ireland, son of the above, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1818, and there his boyhood and youth were passed. The principal part of his education was received by observation and self-study, for schools at that time were few and far between. He made surveying a special study, and became quite proficient in that. Up to the age of twenty-one he remained with his parents, and at that age his father gave him a horse and saddle and $100 in money. About 1832 he made his way to Michigan, and settled in Berrien County, where he purchased eighty acres of land of Elias Jewell, paying $200 for the same. In order to make payments on the place, he grubbed at fifty cents per day.

That county was the scene of his union with Miss Matilda Michaels, their nuptials being celebrated in the year 1833. She was the daughter of Adam and Mary Michaels. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Ireland turned his attention strictly to his farm, and cleared it of the heavy timber with which it was covered. To the original tract he has added forty acres, and since then he has been a dealer in real estate in Berrien and Cass Counties, and in Iowa and Missouri, owning at one time over eighteen hundred acres. He was also engaged in the milling and lumber business to some extent, and had a controlling interest in the Benton Harbor Plow Company, which lost heavily by fire.

His marriage resulted in the birth of twelve children. E. M. married Miss McGill; A. F. is our subject; Almeda died at the age of seventeen; Carrie is deceased; Alice, deceased, was the wife of Zeph Shaffer; Charles married Miss Nancy File; Libbie married L. H. Perry; Frank married Miss Maggie Flewellen; Milo is next in order; Hattie was married to E. S. Cameron; Roscoe died at the age of nineteen; and George is next. In politics, the father was a Democrat. He is a prominent man in his county, and was sent to the State Legislature in the year 1876. He has held the office of County Surveyor of Berrien County for many years, as well as other positions of note. A director in the Citizens’ Bank of Niles, and a stockholder in the Bank of Dowagiac, he is well and favorably known throughout the county. He makes his home on the farm he first bought on coming to this State.

Until twenty-one years of age our subject remained under the parental roof, and received his education in the district schools and in the schools at Niles and Dowagiac. Upon attaining his majority he went to Missouri, and was engaged in selling wagons for a year. After this he came North again, and later went to Wisconsin, where he worked at the carpenter trade, having learned the latter in his native State. A year later he went to Minneapolis, Minn., and has made his home there the greater part of the time since, following his trade for the most part. He worked two seasons on the depot building for the Great Northern Railroad, and then, in 1884, came to Cass County, where he remained four years. Returning to Minneapolis, he remained there three years, since which time he has been a resident of this county. He is engaged in farming, and has a fine place on section 22, Silver Creek Township. He was married in Berrien County to Miss Louisa Abell, daughter of Ezra and Charlotte (Bortle) Abell. Three children have blessed this union: Max, Birdie and Zoe. Socially, Mr. Ireland is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he is a stanch Republican.