IRELAND, John Edgar 'Jack' 1870 - 1951

IRELAND, BROOKS, SHERIDAN, PORTER, VANCE, LICHTY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 6/8/2025 at 13:01:43

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, May 25, 1951
Front Page, Column 6, and
Page 3, Column 4

JACK IRELAND, SHOE MAN FOR 58 YEARS, DIES

Jack IRELAND, veteran Fairfield shoe merchant, died suddenly last night at the home of Mrs. Bertha Kerr, 106 W. Harrison St. He was 80 years old.

One of the city's oldest businessmen in point of service, IRELAND had been engaged in the shoe business at the same location for 58 years. He was recuperating from a recent illness and had planned to return to his work in a few days when death came.

IRELAND had been a patient in the Jefferson county hospital for more than three weeks, but he was released Monday when his condition improved. He took a room at the Kerr residence after his departure from the hospital.

John Edgar IRELAND was born November 11, 1870 at Brookville, the son of John A. and Elizabeth BROOKS IRELAND. He was reared on a farm at Brookville and came to Fairfield to attend Parsons academy. He later attended Iowa Wesleyan college at Mt. Pleasant but a serious illness prevented him from graduating there.

Returning to Fairfield, he worked in the H. F. Booker Clothing store and in 1893 joined the Hunt-Ireland Shoe firm. The firm was incorporated in 1908 and IRELAND was named secretary and treasurer. He continued in the store after it was sold to the Brown Shoe-Fit Co. October 24, 1935.

IRELAND was married to Alberta Florence SHERIDAN October 10, 1897 at Brookville. She preceded him in death December 24, 1947. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Florence PORTER, Washington, D. C., and one sister, Mrs. Nettie IRELAND VANCE, Mansfield, Mo. One grandson, Michael PORTER, a student at Mexico, Mo., also survives.

Mrs. VANCE, accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. L. D. LICHTY, arrived in Fairfield Monday to visit IRELAND.

Five brothers and sisters preceded him in death.

The body is at the West Behner Funeral home where last rites are pending the arrival of Mrs. PORTER.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, May 26, 1951
Page 8, Column 5

IRELAND Funeral To Be Monday Morning

Last rites for Jack IRELAND, veteran Fairfield shoe merchant, will be held Monday morning at the Weston Behner funeral home.

The services will be at 10:30 a.m. with Dr. Curtis R. Douglass in charge. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

IRELAND, who was in the shoe business for 58 years, passed away suddenly Thursday night while recuperating from a recent illness.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, May 29, 1951
Page 4, Column 4

LOOKIN' IN ON THE FOLKS
By "UNCLE BILL"

... I will surely miss Jack IRELAND. He was one of the first men I met when I came to Fairfield nearly eight years ago. We had both forgotten that we had met before--back about 1901, in Hedrick, Iowa. I was publishing the Hedrick Herald and Jack and his wife were visiting in Hedrick.

* * *

Senator John Tinley Brooks, cashier of the Hedrick Savings Bank, brought him to my office to meet me. Sen. Brooks was a scion of the Brooks family of Brookville and he and Jack had remembered of their parents speaking of John Sherlock, Sr., who had entered land just northwest from Iowa, back in the latter part of the 1840s. John Sherlock, Sr., was my grandfather.

* * *

It is such matters as that which cause strangers to become better acquainted. When The Ledger got out its Centennial edition on Sept. 24, 1946, Jack gave me very important information that related to the early families in Locust Grove and Polk townships. He was a great help in other ways while I was getting my bearings as a stranger in a strange land.

* * *

He was one of the most even tempered men I have ever known. He was not given to periods of great enthusiasm to be followed with little warning by periods of depression. Never have I seen him keyed-up in excitement nor keyed-down in anxiety. Yes, I will miss Jack greatly.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.298 with wife Alberta.