BIO: James A. IRONS, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 355-359. _________________________________________________________________ JAMES A. IRONS, who for many years was a prominent contractor, stands foremost among the progressive citizens of Monaca, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He is a man of public spirit, and when he deems an improvement necessary for the future welfare of the borough, he puts forth a strenuous effort for its accomplishment. His aggressiveness in public affairs has been in evidence for years, and it may safely be said without fear of contradiction, that no one man has done as much for the community; for this he is held in the highest esteem. Mr. Irons comes of Irish ancestry, and is descended from one of three brothers, Solomon, Samuel and George, who came to this country from County Derry, Ireland. They were sons of a very wealthy man who held ninety-nine year leases on considerable property. Solomon Irons, the grandfather of the subject hereof settled in Washington county, Pa., in 1771, and moved to Beaver county about the year 1800, taking up several hundred acres of wild land, which was almost virgin forest, and traversed by few roads. He made a clearing and built a log house and barn, - becoming a very successful farmer. Religiously, he was a member of the United Presbyterian church. He died at the age of seventy-six years. His marriage with Rachel Dickson, a lady of Scottish birth, was blessed with eleven children: James; George; John; William; Andrew; Samuel; Joseph; Rachel (Maloney); Mary (Douds); Rosanna (Nevin), and Elizabeth. John Irons, the father of James A., was 356 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES born in Hopewell township, Beaver county, in 1811, on the old homestead, and received his intellectual training in what schools the community afforded. He learned the trade of a tanner under Mr. Scott, one of the first "squires" appointed in the county, and subsequently went into the tanning business for himself. He was very successful, but preferred farming, and as a result, purchased two hundred acres of partially improved farm land in 1840. He moved upon the place in 1845, dealt considerably in horses, raised wheat, and carried on general farming, - being fairly successful. He was a shrewd business man. He was united in marriage with Ann Moore, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and a daughter of Joseph Moore. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Joseph, who is now a real estate agent, and justice of the peace, in Greenfield, O.; James A., the gentleman whose name heads these lines; Elizabeth A. (Laird); Rachel J. (Peoples); Rosanna (Minor); John D., a farmer in Pittsburg, Kas.; and Amanda (Wallace). Religiously, he was a member, and for many years an elder, of the United Presbyterian church. He was a Whig, in political affiliations. He died of typhoid fever at the age of forty-two years, and, eight days afterwards, his wife died of the same disease. James A. Irons was born in Hopewell township, and attended the public schools until he was thirteen years of age, when he became apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, under George Denny and Mr. Couch. He then followed the trade at intervals for a period of eight or ten years, and in 1856 he entered Beaver College, which he attended for two years. From 1857 to 1862, he worked on the river, and in the latter year, on the 28th of April, he enlisted as a blacksmith and assistant engineer in the navy, on the steam ram Lioness. He participated in the fight which resulted in the destruction of the rebel fleet at Vicksburg, and has the distinction of being the first Union man to set his foot in Memphis at the time of its capture. He has many interesting relics of the war, - one of them being an old boarding pike in excellent condition, which he intends presenting to the Carnegie museum. After his discharge, he took lip contracting, in 1867, and during the oil excitement, went to Oil City and engaged in that business. Subsequently he became interested in gas lands, and leased three hundred acres in Moon and Hopewell townships. Upon drilling for gas he made one of the two best strikes in the county, and its roaring could be heard seven miles away. The company disposed of this property to the Bridgewater Gas Company, of which he was secretary and treasurer, and it yielded him handsome returns. Mr. Irons, since his residence at Monaca, has ever exerted a wholesome influence in public affairs, and has fought with his utmost vigor for many public improvements. When a system of water works for the town was proposed, its supporters succumbed to determined opposition, one by one, until the subject hereof alone stood as its champion. Realizing the great benefit it would be to the BEAVER COUNTY 359 citizens, he would not yield, but fought to the bitter end, and had the satisfaction of seeing it established. Although for a time he was harshly denounced by the opposition, he is now accorded the respect of his gratified fellow citizens. Similar were the conditions in his fight for grading and paving, and for the telephone line. He purchased the line, and having it in good condition, disposed of it to the telephone company. His energy in furthering these enterprises entitles him to recognition as one of the progressive men of Beaver county. He is a Republican and has served as burgess for three terms, and on last May received his fifth commission as justice of the peace. He is a member of the G. A. R. James A. Irons was united in marriage with Margaret Quinn Srodes, a daughter of John M. Srodes, one of the early river pioneers, and for many years a pilot and captain on the Ohio River. They became the parents of four children, as follows: John E., deceased, who was a very successful business man; James C., a glass manufacturer; Anna, deceased; and B. C., chief of police of Monaca.