Charles Irons

As printed in 1903

CHARLES IRONS.

Among the brave men who devoted the openingwars of their manhood to the defense of their country duringthe dark days of the Livil war was Charles Irons, a prominent old settler of this county, who is now engaged in the grocer)' business at Keswick. He was born in Marion county, West Virginia, on the 26th of December, [839, and is the fourth child and second son of John and Margaret ( Powell) Irons, whose sketch appears above. He was about fourteen years of age when he came with the family to Keokuk county, Iowa, and upon a farm in Adams township he grew to manhood, his life being devoted to agricultural pursuits when not in school until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. In 1862 he enlisted for three years as private in Company H, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he participated in the engagements at Jenkins Ferry and many others in Alabama, assisting in the capture of Spanish Fort. For about six months he was confined in the regimental hospital at Helena, Arkansas, and was then sent home on a furlough, at length rejoicing his regiment at Little Rock. He remained in active service until the close of the war, and was then honorably discharged at Rock Island, Illinois, after which he returned to his home with an army record 01 which he may be justly proud.

Mr. Irons was then successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1901, when he removed to Keswick and embarked in the grocery business, in which pursuit he is incewisp meeting with success, having already built up a good trade. He is still the owner of a good farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres in Adams township, which he rents, and is a stockholder in the Keswick Savings Bank. He

514 GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGkAPHICAL HISTOkY.

assisted in organizing that bank, was one of its directors for some time, and also served as vice president. He is a man of good business and executive ability, who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertake-, and he ranks among the leading and representative citizens of the town. lie is widely and favorably known throughout the county and is justly entitled to prominent mention in its history.

As printed in A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.