Fourth Generation

63. Ira James ROOT (*) was born on 26 August 1847 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.^{1,3,118,119,122,164,188,189,190,191,201,214,215} (The birth place of Ira, Jason and Jane is sometimes listed as Springboro, Crawford County, PA. The 1850 Census sheet listed their home location as "Spring Township" in Crawford County, so it is very likely that Springboro was in Spring Township.)

He was probably named after his father's father, Ira.

Marita Root has this handwritten note from Ira Root to his brother Jason and his sister Orril, who were traveling to visit his father's and mother's relatives in New York and Pennsylvania when he was 16 years old during the Civil War:

"I thought you would like to read a few lines from me but I expect all the particulars are written on the preceding pages (from his father). We are all well at home and I hope Orril has recovered by this time and you and her are having a pleasant time now a visiting. I hope you will get Uncle William or Uncle Jason to go and take you to Penn, or else go on the cars & then I want you to stop to see Uncle Aram and Orson to make a visit all around to one trip. I expect you all have had what fruit you wanted to eat by this time. Well I wish apples would travel on the telegraph. I would have a good laugh if Ephraim had been drafted. Good bye for this time.

Ira

p.s. Eat all enough apples to last you all winter. Wanted, another letter from you directly." He appeared in the census in 1850 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.¹¹⁸ He was Baptist after 1850.²¹⁶ He and his parents and family were strong Baptists, and very much against drinking. Ira appeared in the census in 1860 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² Between 1864 and 1920 he was a farmer in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{119,164,170,191,201,217,218,219} in the Council Creek area. He took over his father's 120-acre farm in the southwest corner of Section 20 after his father's death in 1864.

An article in the Tomah Journal dated 11 March 1904 states: "Ira Root of the Town of Tomah sold his farm of 120 acres this week to Mert Sullivan, who recently sold his farm on the Ridge. Consideration $5,000." At that time, Ira and his wife and family moved to a farm in the northern portion of Section 16 in Tomah Township. The latter house and barn were eventually torn down when I-90 was built in the 1970's.

He was featured as a prominent citizen in the "Biographical Histories of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau Counties, Wisconsin" in 1892: "Ira J. Root, a pioneer of Monroe County, is a son of Thomas A. and Harriet (Knapp) Root, natives of New York. The parents came to this State in the fall of 1854, stopping first near Baraboo, Sauk County, and in the spring of 1856 they came to Monroe County. They made their home at Jacksonville about four years, and then came to the farm of 120 acres now owned by our subject. They immediately began to improve the place, erected a good frame residence, barns for stock and grain, and made other necessary improvements. In the spring of 1864, the father enlisted in Company I, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, and served with his regiment until 1864, when he was sent home on a furlough on account of a severe sickness, and died a few days later, October 12, 1864, aged forty-six years and eleven months. The mother died March 10, 1879, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of four children: Jason B., of Dickey County, North Dakota; who served in Company I, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, during the late war; Ira, our subject; Jane C., now Mrs. Dewey, of Monroe County; and Orril H., widow of W. H. Jennings, of Tomah. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ira Root, our subject, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1847, and at the age of seventeen years he took charge of the home farm and looked after the welfare of his mother until her death. In 1880, he purchased the entire home farm, of which he has made one of the best places in the county. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.

Mr. Root was married December 28, 1870, to Mary Dewey, who was born in Walworth County, Wisconsin, August 11, 1850 (actually 1851), and they have seven children, viz.: Arthur T., a student at the Curtis Business College, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnie E., Edith M., Mabel C., Orson J., Eva J. and Irvin N." He appeared in the census in June 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁶ He was living with his widowed mother and his sister Orril. Ira appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁷ His household consisted of 2 males and 2 females. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ His household consisted if Ira, Mary and their children, Arthur, Minnie, Edith and Mabel; his occupation was listed as "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²⁰ His household consisted of 3 men and 5 women. Ira appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ His household consisted of 3 males and 5 females; their given names were not listed, but the 3 males were probably Ira and his sons Orson and Irvin, and the 5 females were probably his wife, Mary, and their daughters Minnie, Edith, Mabel and Eva. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁴ His household consisted of Ira and Mary, and their children, Edith, Orson, Eva, Irvin and Lottie, and his occupation was "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²² His occupation was "Farmer." Ira appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁸ His household consisted of Ira and Mary, and their children Irvin and Lottie. His occupation was "Farmer, General Farm." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²³ His household was located at 320 ..(unreadable).. Street in the 1st Ward and consisted of himself, age 72; his wife, Mary, age 68; and their daughter, Lottie, age 23. He died on 4 September 1923 at the age of 76 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{1,3,201,214,215} Obituary Notes: "Ira. J. Root, son of Thomas and Harriet Root, was born Aug. 26, 1847, in Pennsylvania. When he was six years of age, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, they locating first in Columbia county, and some years later moving to Monroe County, in Adrian Township where Ira. J. grew to manhood. His father was called to the colors in the Civil War, and Ira while still a youth, took charge of the home farm. On Dec. 28, 1870, he was married to Mary M. Dewey.

Mary M. Dewey was born Aug. 11, 1851, in Walworth County, Wis., her parents being Norman and Minerva Dewey. In her early childhood she was brought to Ridgeville, where her parents first located, later moving to Adrian Township, where she was married. Ira J. and Mary M. Root took up their abode on his father's farm, where they resided until 1904, when they moved to a farm just south of Tomah. They lived there until 1919, when they moved to Tomah.

There were ten children born to this union, four of whom have preceded the parents in death. Two of the children died in infancy; Mabel died in 1897, and Eva in 1920. Those surviving are Arthur T. at Sparta, Wis; Minnie E. Taft at Redwater, Montana; Edith M. Davis at Glendive, Montana; Orson J. at Tomah; Irvin N. at Sparta; and Lottie C. Gruetzmacher at Sterling, Ill. There are 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Other relatives left to mourn their death are: Mrs. A. E. Dewey of Tomah, and Jason B. Root of Anaheim, Calif., sister and brother of Mr. Root; Mr. A. E. Dewey, a brother of Mrs. Root.

Ira J. Root departed this life Sept. 4, 1923, at the age of 76 years and nine days. Two days later, on Sept. 6, his wife Mary Root, followed him, at the age of 72 years, 26 days. They had lived beautifully and faithfully together for nearly 53 years, and it was fitting that they should go into the other world together.

Funeral services for both were held at the Methodist Church in Tomah, the afternoon of Sept. 8, conducted by Rev. G. H. Willett of the Methodist Church, and Rev. J. G. Smith of the Congregational Church. Interment was made at the Jacksonville Cemetery.

Those from out of town attending the funeral services were: A. T. (Arthur) Root and Family, Sparta; Irvin Root, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gruetzmacher, Sterling, Ill.; Miss Jennie Jennings, Black River Falls; Mr. and Mrs. E. DeWitt, Sparta; Mrs. O. DeWitt, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Al. Bakken, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Davis, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. John Davis, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Dave Davis, Sparta; Mrs. Grace Jones, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. E. Kowitz, Sparta; Mr. and Mrs. Brandt, Sparta; and Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Dewey, Mather." Ira was buried on 8 September 1923 in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^127,201 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Ira James ROOT (*) and Mary Minerva DEWEY (*+) were married on 28 December 1870 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI.^{1,3,43,54,119,130,168,201,204,214,215,224} They were married by Rev. W. H. Cross at the home of the bride's father. The 1900 and 1910 Census' indicate that they had 10 children, 3 of whom had died prior to the 1900 Census.

(Siblings, Ira and Jane Root, married siblings, Mary and Aurelius Dewey.)

All of their children are believed to have been born at their family farm in the southwest corner of Section 20 in Tomah Township. Mary Minerva DEWEY (*+)^116,117, daughter of Norman N. DEWEY and Minerva Eunice PARISH, was born on 11 August 1851 in Walworth County, WI.^{119,122,164,168,190,201,214,215,225} (The Biographical History of La Crosse, Monroe and Juneau County lists her birth date as 11 August 1850; that is believed to have been in error.) (The 1860 Census for her and the 1930 Census for her daughter Edith list her birth place as Ohio; that is believed to be incorrect.) (The 1910 Census for her son Arthur lists her birth place as Vermont; that is also believed to be incorrect.) She appeared in the census in 1855 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.²²⁶ She lived at the home of her parents in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI about 1860.¹²² Mary appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² She appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁶ She was living with her parents. She appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁷ Mary appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ She appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²⁰ She appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²¹ Mary appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁴ She appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²² She appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁸ Mary appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.²²³ She died on 6 September 1923 at the age of 72 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{201,214,215,216} She had a stroke and was in the hospital at the time that she and her husband died. She was buried on 8 September 1923 in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^127,201 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Ira James ROOT (*) and Mary Minerva DEWEY (*+) had the following children:

+127	i.	Arthur Thomas "Art" ROOT Sr..
128	ii.	(Unknown Child I) ROOT was born on 27 December 1872 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.1,134,190,214 (His/her birth date is listed as Dec 7, 1872 in a family history notebook kept by Bernice Griggs, and as Dec 27, 1872 in the Root Family Bible.) He/she died on 30 December 1872 at the age of 0 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.55,134,214 He/she was buried in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.127,134 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
+129	iii.	Minnie Etta ROOT.
+130	iv.	Edith May ROOT.
131	v.	Mabel C. ROOT was born on 22 May 1879 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.1,99,134,164,190,214 She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.164 She appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.220 Mabel appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.221 She died on 25 February 1897 at the age of 17 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.1,99,134,191,214 of tuberculosis. She died at the family farm in the Jacksonville section of town. She was buried in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.99,127 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
+132	vi.	Orson James ROOT.
+133	vii.	Eva Jane ROOT (*) (*+).
+134	viii.	Irvin Norman ROOT.
135	ix.	(Unknown Child II) ROOT was born before 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.55,221,227 (Ira's and Mary's obituary mentions, "There were ten children born to this union, four of whom preceded them in death. Two of them died in infancy." This was one of the two infants. He/she was not listed in the looseleaf paper in the Root Family Bible in the possession of Dr. Thomas Root. The child was not listed in the 1895 or 1900 Census, so he/she may have been born and died before 1895.) He/she died before June 1895 at the age of 0.54,227 The 1900 Census for its parents indicated that they had 10 children, of whom 7 were living at the time; this child must have been one of the three who had died before then.
+136	x.	Lottie Consulla ROOT.