IRAIra owes its beginning to the coming of the Diagonal Railroad. The route for the railroad between Des Moines and Marshalltown was settled in May of 1883. It bypassed the town of Greencastle, so many of its business firms and residents were moved to the new town of Mingo by the railroad. The town of Baxter was left a mile west of the railroad route, so most of its buildings were moved to a new site. The railroad company apparently wanted a town between the two towns. Pioneers had lived in the area for many years. Union Chapel, northwest of Ira, was dedicated December 23, 1877 to serve the religious needs of a large area. Salem Jeffries was named grantee of a land patent from the U.S., dated June 1, 1854. He sold 160 acres to Wm. F. Rippey who then sold 20 acres to the new railroad and the deed was recorded in November 21, 1883. Rippey was the name chosen for the new town, but it soon was discovered Iowa already had a Rippey, so the name Millard was on the plat for the town recorded on December 3, 1883. The post-office department objected to the name Millard because it was similar that of another town in Iowa. So the name Ira was selected and a post office was established with Salem Jeffries officially named the first postmaster of Ira on February 11, 1884. There are conflicting stories about the name Ira. One is that it was the name of a railroad superintendent. Another said the name came from a well liked man in the area, Ira Titus. The railroad was completed thru Ira in January of 1884. Peter A. Planalp was the first agent. Wells Fargo & Co., Express and Western Union Telegraph services were available by January 16, 1884. After the, completion of the railroad things began to happen in the new town of Ira and vicinity. Alva Mershon put a sawmill into operation on the Wm. A.B. Tramel farm. Bower and Keifer built a carpenter shop in Ira. P. H. Early opened a lumber yard and he built the first home in the new town of Ira. |
Salem Jeffries built a general merchandise store which also contained the post office and a family-residence on the second floor. John Anderson moved his store from Greencastle to Ira. J. Meyers built a blacksmith shop and Eli McQuiston constructed a hotel. James Gray built a brick yard along Turkey Creek. Fred Roberts became the town's barber. A livery barn and a farm implement store were built. An elevator was built and corn storage bins appeared. A creamery did a thriving business. A hardware store was constructed with an attached dwelling. Other businesses to follow were a harness maker and shoe repairman, a meat market, a drug store and a millinery store, a grain and stock buying firm and a grist mill opened for business. The Ira Rural Free Delivery was established on April 1, 1904. F. G. Logsdon was the first, one and only R.F.D. Carrier and he held the position for thirty years. Over the years business places and people came and went, but the town of Ira never became a city, remaining more of a village. The coming of the automobile probably contributed to the lack of growth of the town and also to the decline of business as residents went to the larger places to shop. The automobile can also be blamed for the removal of the railroad mail service and the eventual loss of passenger trains. Churches, schools, banks, etc. are covered briefly in other stories. A more complete account is also available in the "History of Ira" published in 1937. *********************COMING EVENTSPlans are underway for a Centennial Celebration for the town of Mingo on July 6 & 7, 1984. Bill Gannon and Susanne Fales are Co-chairpersons. A history book is being compiled and the committee will welcome information. |
Some of the changes in Ira business in recent years. Imogene Bucklin became Postmistress on June 1, 1971. She moved the post office to the east side store building shortly thereafter and she and her husband, Vernon, opened an antique business about the same time. They terminated that business with an auction in May 1977. Mrs. Judith A. Keagle was appointed Postmistress on June 1, 1977. She operated a gift and hobby shop from November 1977 to November 1978. Judie had the Ira Store from June 1978 to September 1980. It became the Ira Food Center in September 1980 under lease to the Mingo Food Center and operated by Judie to April 1981. Since then she has had only the Ira Post Office in the east side brick building. Max Bucklin built his body shop in 1978 east of the garage. It was then destroyed by fire in April 1980. Max rebuilt the building. (OTHER IRA NEWS)The first July 4th fireworks were in 1975. Home made ice cream & cake was served the spectators. The first Ira July 4th celebration since many years was in 1980. It has continued since with fireworks. In June 1931 Doctor Leland Weston, a former Ira resident, received his degree in medicine from the State University of Iowa. Do you remember when the Ira school kids all gathered at the Blue Goose Cafe for the Mingo School bus. In the History Of Ira published in 1976, I mistakenly reported that Mrs. Nellie Jeffries Colby, born in Ira in 1894, was the oldest living person to have lived in Ira. However, Miss Faye Lowe, now living in Nelson Manor, Newton, was born on the 25th day of December, 1888, held and still holds that honor. Miss Lowe and her sister Babe Lowe Duncan were the teachers of the first Ira Independent School District teaching the two 1913 - 15 terms. |
The Lowe sisters came to Ira as small children to make their home with their grandfather, Wm. F. Rippey, after their mother had died. Nellie Jeffries Colby is now deceased. Former Ira school teachers, Jennie Crawford Palmer and Joy Mason, are also deceased. Since the July 4th Centennial Celebration, the large oil storage tanks, which were north of the Church, have been removed. Excerpts from "Other Notes" in the "IRA STAR".Our Centennial Committee had quite a discussion one night on whether or not we should try to get someone really important to be the main guest at our Centennial Celebration. After considerable discussion and examples of importance were given, we decided that everyone in our community is important. Not only that, but every one of our friends and neighbors who are helping in the effort to make the day a memorable one is Important (with a capital "I"). We are proud to have these kinds of people around us and figure some of these same kinds must have lived around here back in 1883 when this town was getting underway. In fact, all thru the years it has taken some Important People to keep the life flowing in this little town. We hereby give our thanks to each of you who have helped and made your donation to receive this paper. May the Good Lord bless and keep you -- and we hope to see you in town this Fourth of July. Salem Jeffries, Ira's first Post Master and store keeper and former farmer, was a member of the l0th Iowa General Assembly serving in the House of Representatives in 1856. June 15, 1887 - The Diagonal has come out with four new cabooses --red as a turkey gobbler's neck -- and three new engines. In April 1916 Ray Echternacht organized the first and only Boy Scout Troop in Ira. |
IRA CHURCH OF CHRIST CHRISTIAN CHURCH CHURCH OF CHRISTMINISTERS and PASTORS 1899-1968 C. H. Clancy - 1899 UNITED METHODIST AND CHRISTIAN CHURCH IRA UNITED METHODIST CHRISTIAN CHURCHIra Pastors 1968- 1978 In May of 1968 the Christian and Methodist Churches of Ira united under the name of "the Ira United Methodist-Christian Church." The big bell from the Methodist Church was moved to the belfry of the Christian Church, and services were held there. The Methodist Church property was sold to Jack Bucklin who tore down the old Church building, dedicated in 1893. |
THE UNITED CHURCH OF IRACongregational meetings were held on Sunday, July 23, 1978, by members of both the United Methodist and the Christian Churches of Ira "for the purpose of taking formal action to allow the merging of these legal non profit Iowa Corporations into one corporation known as the "UNITED CHURCH of IRA." A house of worship was provided by the purchase of the Ira Grange building, which was built as a school house with the help of W. P. A. workers in 1937. This brick building of modern construction had a two room school on the first floor and a community hall in the basement. It was remodeled by replacing the old flat roof with a new sloping roof. The interior was remodeled as a Church Sanctuary, Sunday School rooms and office. Also new pews and furnishings were provided and new lighting. The basement was retained as a community hall. Rev. James Robert Pemble, a member of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church, was pastor of the Church from the time of the merger to June 15, 1983. On June 15, 1983, Rev. Elton Nolte became the pastor. Robert Matthews was elected Lay Leader of the Church in 1978. The Church sponsors a pre school in the community room for service for children from Ira, Mingo and Baxter. The director is Carol Myers and her assistant is Cinda Dee. The building is for all community activities.
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