Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 477.
 
JOHN E. IRONS

     A representative citizen of Freewater, Umatilla county, is John E. Irons
who is engaged in fruit growing. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, August 27
1866 a son of Joseph and Matilda Jane (Monical) Irons. His father was a native
of Virginia while the mother was born in Indiana. At an early day Joseph Irons
came with his parents to Iowa, where his father engaged in farming. The father
and mother of Joseph Irons both died on their farm there and in 1887 Joseph
Irons, with his wife and family came west and settled near Milton, where he
bought eighty acres of land. He brought this land to a high state of cultivation
and there resided until June 26, 1907, when his demise occurred at the age of
seventy-two years. Mrs. Irons is still living and is making her home with a
daughter, Mrs. L. H. Bonsall, in Spokane. The mother is eighty-one years of age
and in the best of health. Mr. Irons was throughout his life a stanch democrat,
having firm belief in the principles of that party as factors in good
government.
     John E. Irons received his education in Iowa, where he spent his early
boyhood and then came west with his parents in 1887. He worked out on farms for
some time and engaged in railroad work until 1902, when he started
blacksmithing, an occupation he followed for some sixteen years. Because of ill
health he was forced to give up this business, in which he had achieved more
than a substantial measure of success and he purchased a fruit ranch of eleven
and one-half acres near Freewater. He specializes in prunes and winesap apples
and has built up a business of large proportions. In addition to his fruit
interests Mr. Irons holds some valuable real estate owning one-half block of
business property on South Main street and also a fine home on Grant street.
     In 1910 Mr. Irons was married to Miss Emma M. Griner, a daughter of Jacob
and Mariah Griner, and a native of Keokuk county, Iowa.
     Since age conferred upon Mr. Irons the right of franchise he has been a
stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which be takes an
active part although he has neither sought nor desired public office. He is
likewise a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization
he maintains an active interest. Mr. Irons has arrived at his present position
of prosperity solely through his own diligence and labor and he is readily
conceded to be a representative citizen of Freewater and a leader in fruit
growing interests.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.