Robert Ireton was born in Ireland, January 2, 1830, a son of James and Sarah (Thornton) Ireton, the former of whom died in 1845; the latter, two years later, came to America with her nine children and for two years lived in Geneva, New York, when the family came to Indiana and located in Richmond, Wayne county. In 1880 Robert Ireton came to Hancock county and filially cared for his widowed mother until her death, which occurred in 1860. One brother, Thomas, still resides in Richmond, and he has also a sister, Hannah, who is the wife of Thomas McGarr.

Mr. Ireton was joined in matrimony December 6, 1859, with Miss Catherine Devitt, who was born in 1840, a daughter of John and Leticia (Morrow) Devitt, natives of the north of Ireland, and who came to this county in 1852, being then a young girl of twelve years only. To the marriage of Mrs. and Mrs. Robert Ireton have been born six children, in the following order: James Henry, December 24, 1860; Sarah Letitia, January 30, 1862; Hannah, February 3, 1864; Elizabeth Jane, August 25, 1866; Robert Thomas, September 21, 1869; Margaret Leota, September 30, 1873. Of the above named children Sarah Letitia was married to Samuel Torrence, of Indianapolis; Hannah became the wife of William Cooney, of Greenfield; Elizabeth was wedded to George Leeds; Margaret is the wife of Thomas B. Leary, of Mohawk, Indiana; Robert married Josie Pope, who was born in Indiana May 4, 1882, and all the family are now well provided for and are held in the highest esteem by the residents of the various neighborhoods in which they are located.

Mr. Ireton was in his earlier manhood a cooper by trade and carried on for many years a prosperous business in Richmond, Indiana. He was industrious and as frugal as the generous impulses of his Irish nature would admit of and acquired a considerable sum of money. He was foreman for Venemon, Reed & Company, then began business for himself. Eventually he sold his cooperage plant in Richmond and with the proceeds purchased his present farm in Vernon township, Hancock county, and in his new vocation has met was as great a success as that which had previously attended him. In politics Mr. Ireton is a Democrat. Socially he stands very high and his genial nature has made for him hosts of friends wherever he thought fit to make his home.

Transcribed from Biographical Memoirs of Hancock County B. F. Bowen, Publisher, Logansport, Indiana, 1902 Pages 437.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI Aug 15, 2006.

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