The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 279
TOWN OF IRA/ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

organized in 1828, by Rev. Geo. W. Densmore, with nine members, viz: Samuel Andrews, and Margaret his wife, Lois Andrews, his mother, Geo. B. Andrews, his son, Eliza Andrews, his daughter, Mrs. Maria Follett, Mrs. Abram Williams, and ------Kinney and wife, of whom only Geo. B. Andrews and Maria Follett are living. Revs. Geo. W. Densmore and W. Ninde were the first pastors on this circuit, for two years. The present pastor is Olin Webster, who commenced his labors October 1st, 1877. Their church edifice was built about twenty-six years ago. The present membership is about seventy; and the attendance at Sabbath school, about twenty.

IRA STATION.

Ira Station, on the S. C. R. R., is on the west line, two miles west of Ira Center. There is nothing here but the depot.

MANUFACTURES.--One-half mile west of Ira Center is a saw-mill, owned by W. H. Carr and James Follett, and built in 1848, by Samuel Phelps, Jr., and Samuel Sturge. In 1870, new machinery was put in and a stave machine added. The motive power is furnished by a thirty-six horse-power engine. Its capacity is 5,000 feet of lumber per day.

In the south part of the town, about midway on the road between Cato and Meridian, is a cheese-factory owned by Abial Cook. It was started by a stock company about six years ago and run by them about two years, when it came into the hands of Abial Cook, who was the principal stock-holder. Three cheese only are made per day.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE R. RICH.

GEORGE R. RICH is the sixth child of John and Sarah (Eastman) Rich, who were natives of Connecticut, both of whom were born about the year 1778. His father was a farmer, and a brick-maker by trade. In 1802,. his parents moved from Connecticut, and settled in Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., where his father resided until his death, which occurred in 1821.

George R. was born in Fort Ann, in 1809, and in the year 1834, came with his mother to Ira, Cayuga County, where, in 1869, she passed from earthly life at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

The subject of this brief sketch had but a few advantages for an early education. He worked for neighboring farmers by the day and month during the summers, and attended the district schools winters, until he was eighteen years of age. He followed farming, and employed his leisure time in preparing himself for his profession, that of the law, until the year 1843, but he was admitted to practice in the County courts in 1842. In 1843 he went into the office of Judge Humphries, at that time one of the ablest jurists in the State, where he studied until 1848. He was admitted to practice in all the courts that year, and has been concerned in the adjustment of many intricate suits which called into requisition great powers of mind, and the exercise of superior judgement.

Few have passed through the vicissitudes attending a long practice of the profession with more honor, and given more general satisfaction to both plantiff and defendant. Being of an iron constitution he still retains much of that buoyancy of spirit which characterized his youthful days.

In 1859 he was appointed by Gov. Morgan, Loan Commissioner for the County of Cayuga, which office he held for about eight years.

He has by rigid economy and close application to his business accumulated a competency which will tend to smooth life's rugged pathway down through old age. His house has ever been an asylum for the needy who were thought worthy, and no one was ever turned away empty. In politics Mr. Rich was a Democrat in his earlier life, but after the formation of the Republican party he voted with and worked for the interests of the latter till the nomination of Horace Greely in 1872, since which time he has voted for the "best man" in his judgement, at every election, regardless of party. For many years he was a member and a liberal supporter of the Baptist church, but now attends the Disciples' church.

On the 23d of April, 1834, he was joined in marriage to Margaret Ann (Wood) Wallace, daughter of Ruloff and Maria (Van Alstine) Wood, of Montgomery county. Her mother is yet living and is a member of Mr. Rich's family. Her age is 87 years.

They have raised a large family of children, of whom they have reason to feel proud, and have given them a good education, at the same time instilling in their minds the value of industry and economy. Their names are here given in the order of their births; Frank, now a prominent and successful attorney at Cato, N. Y., who was born February 3d, 1835, and married Frances

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