In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1826
From The History of Muscatine county, Iowa (1879)
IRA DEAN, manufacturer of boots and shoes. Second street; Mr. Dean was born in Orange, Essex Co., N. J., June 17, 1826. Jan. 8, 1849, he married Miss Phoebe Ann Swann, a native of Chatham, N. J. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Dean served as Wagonraaster at Camp Nelson, Ky. He removed to Muscatine from Ohio in 1873, and has since been a resident. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church. They have had four children, two of whom are living— Sarah (now Mrs. E. Dawson, of Muscatine), and Byroa B.; Byron B. is married, and is Train-Dispatcher at Newark, Ohio. Mr. Dean, politically, was originally a Whig; on the organization of the Eepublican party, he adopted the principles of that party, and still gives them his support.
As printed in The History of Muscatine county, Iowa (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.