Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ireland, Charles A. January 23, 1936
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Sentinel-Standard - Thursday, Jan. 23, 1936

                    C. A. IRELAND DIES AFTER ALONG ILLNESS -
       Well Known Ionia Hardware Dealer and Former President of National and 
                     State Associations Came Here in 1904

Charles A. Ireland, 67, for 30 years prominently identified with Ionia's 
business activities, and with local, state and national hardware circles died 
at 2:30 o'clock Thursday morning. Mr. Ireland's death followed an illness of 18 
months duration. Taken more seriously ill over a year ago with a complication 
of ailments he began a losing fight to regain his health, but had continued to 
fail during the time, and his splendid vitality only served to delay the 
inevitable  end. 

Mr. Ireland came to Ionia county from Illinois early in the present century and 
entered the hardware business with his brother, the late T. Frank Ireland, at 
Belding. In 1904 he came to Ionia from Belding and purchased the pioneer 
hardware establishment of Nathan Kenyon, which he conducted during most of the 
intervening years. 

His influence in this business was felt beyond the limits of his own city and 
in 1909 he was made president of the Michigan retail hardware dealers 
association and in 1910 became a member of the executive committee of the 
national retail hardware dealers association, later being its second and first 
vice-presidents, and in 1913 at Jacksonville, Florida, being elected in the 
presidency of the national body.

In June 1922, Mr. Ireland was named president of the national association of 
Winchester clubs, a group allied with the hardware business and later was a 
member of the advisory board of that group, with which 5,700 Winchester 
hardware stores in the country affiliated. 

He was always active in Ionia's business and commercial activities and served 
in many capacities, among them as director of the board of trade, president of 
the chamber of commerce, (a couple of illegible words) officer in numerous 
other civic groups. He was a guiding force in any movement for the betterment 
of Ionia. No one in Ionia was more energetic, vigorous and enthusiastic in 
devoting his efforts to civic enterprises. 

He was the first president of the Ionia Building and Loan association and for 
ten years served in that capacity, and he was a stockholder in the Ionia 
National bank.

In Masonic circles he attained high rank. He had been worshipful master of 
Belding lodge No. 335 F. and A. M. and had been high priest of Ionia chapter. 
No. 14 R. A. M. and commander of Ionia commandery No. 11, Knights Templar. He 
was a member of Saladin temple Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic 
shrine, and of DeWitt Clinton consistory, 32nd degree Ancient Accepted Scottish 
Rite Masons, at Grand Rapids. 

Mr. Ireland was an elder in the first Presbyterian church of Ionia with which 
he affiliated for many years. He was a former member of the Rotary club, of the 
Ionia Country club of which he was one of the founders, the Lodge No. 548, 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Ionia. He was a life-long 
republican, pronounced in his advocacy of the principals of his party and 
active in in furthering its welfare. He was one of the officials of the Green-
for-governor, and his activity in that movement was state-wide. Although he was 
prominent in party councils and in party activities Mr. Ireland had never held 
a political office. 

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the 
Presbyterian church with Rev. H. A. Simpson officiating.

Surviving him are one sister, Mrs. R. A. Wilder, of Minneapolis, who is 
visiting at the home of her son Harold Wilder, here and several nephews and 
nieces, including Harold Wilder, of Ionia, Miss Imogene Ireland, of Scottsdale, 
Arizona; Mrs. Frank McCarey of Chicago; Mrs. A. B. Meyers, of Bloomington, 
Ill.; Mrs. Walter Ireland and two children, Richard and Charles of East 
Lansing. 

Mr. Ireland was married November 28, 1900, to Miss Agnes Spencer, of 
Greenville, was teaching at that time in the Belding schools. Mrs. Ireland's 
death occurred December 1 last, after a brief illness, and Mr. Ireland's body 
will be placed by her side at Highland Park cemetery. 

Additional Comments:
Age: 67
Funeral: Sunday, 26 January, 1936
Highland Park cemetery #11-89


b. Nov. 6, 1868, Ill. - son of Wm. W. & Sarah (Vertrees)
married Nov. 28, 1900 to Agnes Rosemond (Spencer)

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