The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 277
TOWN OF IRA/ IRA CENTER

1856. After two or three years he sold his goods to John McMaster, from Cato, who kept the store a short time, till the war broke out, when he sold out and went into the army. When McMaster went out, Hiram J. Wood and Ryland Alden put in a stock of goods. Alden sold his interest to Wood, who removed the goods to Conquest.

Lyndon Wooster, from Hannibalville, opened a store in 1867, which he kept only a short time, till 1868. Follett & Andrews put in a stock of goods soon after, and after about two years Andrews sold his interest to James Follett, who continued till May, 1878, when he moved his goods out, and John and George Wiggins, the former from Victory and the latter from Syracuse, commenced business, under the name of Wiggins Bros.

POSTMASTERS.--The post-office at Ira Center was established in 1824, but we were unable to learn the name of the first postmaster. The second was Elijah S. Everts, who held the office sixteen years. Dr. Jno. thompson held the office from 1841-'5. The next was Joseph Earl, who was appointed under Polk's administration, and held the office four years. The next was Benj. M. Ellis, who was succeeded by Samuel Phelps, the latter of whom held the office but a short time. Wm. Cogswell was appointed in 1853, and held the office two years. He was succeeded by Lewis L. Suydam, who held it only two or three months, when Wm. Cogswell was again appointed. He was succeeded in 1857, by H. B. Kenyon, who held the office three years, when Wm. H. Palmer received the appointment, but held it only some six months, when he resigned, and Simeon M. Downs was appointed. He was succeeded by Lyndon Wooster, and he by Chauncy Phelps, who was appointed in 1872, and resigned in 1873.

He was succeeded by James Follett, who held the office till the spring of 1878, when Darius T. Cook, the present incumbent, was appointed.

PHYSICIANS.--The first physician at Ira Center, was Jno. Thompson, who practiced from 1825 to 1850, when he removed to Racine, Wis. He studied with Dr. Allen Benton, who lived two miles east. Wm. O. Luce bought out Thompson and practiced a few years, when he sold to W. W. D. Parsons and went to Elbridge. Parsons remained two or three years and removed to Fultonville. James D. Benton succeeded him about 1859, and after a year or two he sold to Azariah Judson and went into the army. Judson remained but a short time and was succeeded by David Monroe, who practiced here from 1865 to 1874. D. O. Blood, the present physician, immediately succeeded Monroe. He belongs to the allopathic school of medicine.

LAWYERS.--The only lawyer who has favored the Center with his residence is Geo. W. Miller, the present practitioner, who commenced in the spring of 1850, having lived in the town from boyhood.

MANUFACTURERS.--The only manufacturing establishment at Ira Center is The Ira Cheese and Butter Factory, which was incorporated February 23d, 1870, with a capital pf $3,000. The first trustees, as named in the charter, were: Levi Wormuth, William Foot, Chauncy Phelps, Henry Brackett and Simeon M. Downs. They chose the following named officers: Levi Wormuth, President; William Foot, Vice-President; Simeon W. (sic) Downs, Secretary; and Chauncy Phelps, Treasurer. The present trustees and officers are Levi Wormuth, President; Irvin Squires, Vice-President; John Tallmage, John Phelps, and Chauncy Phelps, the latter of whom is Secretary and Treasurer.

The building is 26 by 100 feet, with an engine room 14 by 16 feet. It was erected in 1870. Seven cheese of fifty-eight pounds each are made daily.

CHURCHES.--The first church at Ira Center, and the first one in the town was Congregational in denomination, and was organized July 7th, 1807, by Rev. Francis Pomeroy. Rev. Silas Barnes was the first pastor. This church is not now in existence.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF IRA was organized in March, 1836, with forty-three members, most of whom were dismissed from the church in Cato. Elder Ira Dudley became their pastor at or soon after their organization. Their numbers were nearly doubled during the first year of their existence, and during this year they commenced the erection of a house of worship, which was opened in 1837. In the latter year their first general revival was experienced, by which eighty-three were added by baptism and letter. Elder Dudley's pastorate covered a period of two years. He was succeeded by William H. Delano, alicentiate, who entered upon his labors in 1838,

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