Born March 12, 1818, at Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee, and died at Fremont, Illinois, August 29, 1878. He was the fourth of nine children born to Thomas L. and Hannah Wood Ireland. Up to eighteen years of age his life was spent at home on the farm, when the family moved to Schuyler county, Illinois, and two years later to Tazewell county in the same State. Upon moving to Illinois, young Ireland engaged in teaching in the public schools, which calling he continued for five years. He had studied medicine in the meantime, and was able to enter the Illinois Medical College at Jacksonville, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1846. The same year he located at Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, where he practiced his profession until 1852, with the exception of one year, 1850, which he spent in California. In 1852 Dr. Ireland moved to Camanche, Clinton County, Iowa, which was then one of the most important points in the eastern part of the State. In 1854 he married Mary E. Cady of New Berlin, New York. He was the first mayor of Camanche, elected in 1857, and again 1859. He was prominent and active both as a Mason and Odd Fellow, and held the highest local offices in both those orders. He was Senator from Clinton County in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth General Assemblies. As a legislator he was careful and conservative, not speaking often, but always attentive to business, and enjoying the highest esteem of his fellow members, his faithfulness and high character challenging their respect and his kindly and courteous ways awakening their friendship and admiration.

Born March 12, 1818, at Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee, and died at Fremont, Illinois, August 29, 1878. He was the fourth of nine children born to Thomas L. and Hannah Wood Ireland. Up to eighteen years of age his life was spent at home on the farm, when the family moved to Schuyler county, Illinois, and two years later to Tazewell county in the same State. Upon moving to Illinois, young Ireland engaged in teaching in the public schools, which calling he continued for five years. He had studied medicine in the meantime, and was able to enter the Illinois Medical College at Jacksonville, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1846. The same year he located at Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, where he practiced his profession until 1852, with the exception of one year, 1850, which he spent in California. In 1852 Dr. Ireland moved to Camanche, Clinton County, Iowa, which was then one of the most important points in the eastern part of the State. In 1854 he married Mary E. Cady of New Berlin, New York. He was the first mayor of Camanche, elected in 1857, and again 1859. He was prominent and active both as a Mason and Odd Fellow, and held the highest local offices in both those orders. He was Senator from Clinton County in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth General Assemblies. As a legislator he was careful and conservative, not speaking often, but always attentive to business, and enjoying the highest esteem of his fellow members, his faithfulness and high character challenging their respect and his kindly and courteous ways awakening their friendship and admiration.