My Genealogy Hound

Samuel C. Ireland, now residing in Auvergne, was born in North Carolina, February 26, 1849, son of John and Elizabeth (Isley) Ireland, natives of North Carolina. Mr. Ireland came to Arkansas in 1872, without a dollar, and located in Cow Lake Township, on property which belonged to his father, there then being but twenty-two families in the township. On this place was a double log house, and twelve acres had been cleared and planted the year previous. In 1873 he had thirty-two acres planted to corn; eight acres he cleared with the assistance of one man, and twelve acres he cleared after night, without assistance. Mr. Ireland continued to clear the land, and the next year planted sixty acres. In 1875 he bought eighty acres of W. L. Johnson, planted seventy acres, which he worked himself, and rented twenty more, making ninety acres under cultivation on his place. At that time, by various purchases, he was the owner of 400 acres of land, 320 of which he bought of his father; he is now the owner of 1,834 acres, 380 of which are under cultivation, the various tracts being in Cow Lake and Richwood Townships. On the places are good dwelling-houses and barns, and on that in Cow Lake Township are a cotton-gin and a grist-mill. Mr. Ireland gives a great deal of attention to mule and cattle raising, finding a home market for them. November 20, 1873, Mr. Ireland married Mrs. Margaret Ireland, widow of his brother, W. W. Ireland. They have no children, but are raising four orphan boys, Henry Lee and Willie Benefield, born in 1871 and 1873, respectively, and Willie and Connie Barnes, nephews of Mrs. Ireland, born in 1880 and 1883, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland are members of the Christian Church.