Harry R. Irish, M. D.

IRISH, BROWNELL, PEIRCE, ROSE, CLAUSEN

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/30/2010 at 06:25:14

HARRY R. IRISH, M. D.

Dr. Harry R. Irish, of Forest City, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, October 4, 1860, a son of David and Harriett (Brownell) Irish, who were natives of Vermont. About 1854 they removed to the middle west, settling in Wisconsin, and in 1867 they established their home in Jasper county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1885. His wife passed away in 1890.

After acquiring a public school education Dr. Irish attended the Hazel Dell Academy at Newton, Iowa, and he began preparation for a professional career by reading medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. J. R. Smith, of Kellogg, Iowa. Later he entered the medical department of the State University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1883. Immediately afterward he came to Forest City, where he opened an office, and here he has since remained, covering a period of more than a third of a century. His ability in his profession has brought him prominently to the front in this connection and he has long been accorded a very liberal patronage. He has been a constant student of his profession and his broad reading has kept him in touch with the trend of modern scientific investigation and discovery.

In 1887 Dr. Irish was married to Miss Alice Peirce, of Sanborn, New York, a teacher of Forest City and a daughter of Edward and Susan (Rose) Peirce. The former was a soldier of the Civil war and laid down his life on the altar of his country in defense of the Union. To Dr. and Mrs. Irish have been born a daughter and son: Leita, the wife of Henry Clausen, of Clear Lake, Iowa; and Thomas, who is now a student in the medical department of the State University. Fraternally Dr. Irish is connected with Truth Lodge, No. 213, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, and he also belongs to the Woodmen Camp No. 717. In politics he may be called an independent democrat, for while he supports many of the principles of the party, he does not consider himself bound by party ties. He has filled the office of mayor of Forest City, to which he has given a beneficial and public-spirited administration, and that he is a stalwart champion of the cause of public education is indicated in his twenty-two years' service as a member of the school board. He has also been pension examiner. In addition to his large private practice he is acting as surgeon for the Rock Island Railway and he belongs to the Winnebago County, the Iowa State and the American Medical Associations and also to the American Association of Railway Surgeons. His ability is pronounced and throughout his entire professional career he has neglected no duty or responsibility that has devolved upon him.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 117-118.