Fourth Generation

10. Ira James ROOT (*) was born on 26 August 1847 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA. (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. He was Baptist after 1850. 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. Between 1864 and 1920 he was a farmer in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. 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. He was living with his widowed mother and his sister Orril. Ira appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household consisted of 2 males and 2 females. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. 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. His household consisted of 3 men and 5 women. Ira appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. 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. 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. His occupation was "Farmer." Ira appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. 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. 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. 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. in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Mary Minerva DEWEY (*+) and Ira James ROOT (*) were married on 28 December 1870 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. 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.

11. Mary Minerva DEWEY (*+) was born on 11 August 1851 in Walworth County, WI. (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. She lived at the home of her parents in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI about 1860. Mary appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She was living with her parents. She appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Mary appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Mary appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Mary appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She died on 6 September 1923 at the age of 72 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. 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. in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Children were:

	i.	Arthur Thomas "Art" ROOT Sr. was born on 5 October 1871 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. (His birth date was erroneously listed as Oct 1873 and his age as 26 in the 1900 Census.) A Tomah Journal article dated 29 March 1900 mentions that he had rescued someone. He appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Art appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. About 1892 he was a student in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN. at the Curtis Business College. After February 1898 he was a merchant in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI. Art appeared in the census in 1900 in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI. He was a "Boarder" in the household of Morris Slayton, and his occupation was "Storekeeper." He appeared in the census in 1910 in Leon Township, Monroe County, WI. His occupation was listed as "Merchant, General Store." He appeared in the census in 1920 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. His household in the 1st Ward was at 209 Burton Street. His occupation was "Traveling Salesman, Rubber Products" for B. F. Goodrich. Art lived at his home in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI in September 1923. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was located at 209 Burton Street and his occupation was listed as "Commercial Salesman, Rubber Goods." He died on 1 February 1946 at the age of 74 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. Art was buried in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Woodlawn Cemetery.
	ii.	(Unknown Child I) ROOT was born on 27 December 1872 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. (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. He/she was buried in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
	iii.	Minnie Etta ROOT was born on 8 February 1874 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1875 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Minnie appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She graduated in 1893 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. from the Tomah High School. About 1895 she was a school teacher in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI. Minnie appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Grand Rapids Township, Wood County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Minnie appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She lived at her home in Redwater, McCone County, MT in September 1923. She died on 23 September 1927 at the age of 53 in Redwater, McCone County, MT. of tuberculosis. She also suffered from depression. (According to Joe Price's research and Howard Taft's Family Group Sheet, she died in Onalaska, WI.) Minnie was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
	iv.	Edith May ROOT was born on 30 July 1877 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Edith appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She graduated in 1896 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. from the Tomah High School. Between 1896 and 1904 she was a school teacher in Coles Valley, Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. Edith appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She was living with her parents and her occupation was "School Teacher." She wrote a post card to her sister Eva in which she wrote: "Dear Eva. We rec'd the card you sent the boys. Didn't you get my last letter telling how we were .... (illegible)? We are all well again. Ronald has been cutting teeth and had earache, too, the first of the week, but he felt Mon like himself. Yesterday, Mary came & stayed with baby and I went to the church supper last night. Robert was in the country. I have not begun house cleaning yet. Want to begin Mon. Expect you are looking for Mother next week. I haven't heard from home in over a week.... (several words unreadable).. for all. Edith." "Ronald" was her oldest son and "Robert" was her husband, but the identity of "Mary" is not known. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Glendive, Dawson County, MT. Edith lived at her home in Glendive, Dawson County, MT in September 1923. She and her children could not be located anywhere in the U.S. in the 1930 Census. She appeared in the census in 1930 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, MT. Her household was at 605 Ninth Avenue and her occupation was "Teacher, Public School." (Her surname is listed as "Donis" in the Ancestry.com census index.) She appeared in the census in 1940 in Madison, Dane County, WI. Her occupation was "Rooming House, Roomers." Edith lived in Madison, Dane County, WI after about 1943. A letter to Blanche Griggs from Edith dated 2 October 1943 listed her address as 229 Clifford Court in Madison. (Blanche was the daughter of Edith's younger sister, Eva.) In the letter, she mentioned that her sister Lottie had received a letter from Vern Griggs the prior July in which he told Lottie about his family. Edith also mentioned that she was about to mail a Christmas package to Glenn Griggs, who was stationed overseas in the Army. She then told Blanche about her children: Ken had enlisted in the Army Reserves and was then stationed at Camp Kearnes, Utah, but was slated to transfer to Alaska; after that, he was to go to Miami to Officers' Candidate School, followed by being sent to Harvard University in Boston to pursue his degree in Business Administration. Her son Leighton was stationed at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, and was flying between there, Boston, and Washington, D.C. And her daughter Grace had joined the Waves the prior April and was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, near Chicago. Her son Ronald and his family were living in Minnesota. At the end of the letter, she mentioned that, "When (her son) Ken left, I took a small four room apt. near the Wis(consin) Gen(eral) Hospital. It is very comfortable, but I get pretty lonesome....If you can come to M(adison), do come to see me. Bring your girl (Doris Mae), too, if you can. Doesn't seem possible that she is in High School." She died on 15 June 1966 at the age of 88 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.
	v.	Mabel C. ROOT was born on 22 May 1879 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Mabel appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She died on 25 February 1897 at the age of 17 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. of tuberculosis. She died at the family farm in the Jacksonville section of town. She was buried in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.
	vi.	Orson James ROOT was born on 28 October 1881 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He told one of his nieces, Marita Root, that as a young boy he was afraid when the family made trip to the village of Tomah. There was an Indian Council area along the road between his home and Tomah, and he was afraid to go near it while the Indians were meeting. Later in his life, he was known as the "Little Red Fox" because of his red hair. He appeared in the census in 1885 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Orson appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living with his parents. He appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living with his parents and was Single, age 24, occupation "Laborer." He appeared in the census in 1910 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. His farm was in Section 1. Orson appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living on the farm believed to be previously owned by his father. He lived at his home in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in September 1923. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. Orson appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. His household was at 802 Kilbourn Avenue. He registered for the Military Draft in 1942 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He died on 27 January 1960 at the age of 78 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
5	vii.	Eva Jane ROOT (*) (*+).
	viii.	Irvin Norman ROOT was born on 29 August 1887 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Irvin appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Laborer." He appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. He was living with his parents. He was Baptist after 1915 in Monroe County, WI. From a conversation with his daughter Marita: "He was very opposed to drinking, and was quite upset when he would have to get people out of the ditch in the middle of the night. There was a road from Tomah that went past his house on the way to the Ridge, and many times people who had too much to drink would go off the road into the ditch. They would then knock on his door to help them get out. He would hitch up his horses to pull them out, and it made him dislike drinking even more." He registered for the Military Draft on 5 June 1917 in Monroe County, WI. He was described as "Tall," "Medium" build, with "Brown" eyes and "Brown" hair. Irvin appeared in the census in 1920 in Dawson County, MT. His household was in School District 95. His occupation was "Farmer, General Farm." He appeared in the census on 28 June 1921 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. "Mr. Irvin Root, formerly of Tomah, and wife and two children narrowly escaped drowning when their home near Redwater, Montana, was washed away June 19, says the Tomah Monitor. Mr. Root owns the Betty Ross ranch, having purchased it but a few years ago. This ranch is situated in a beautiful valley near Redwater, Mont. High water in this valley is of a very rare occurrence. Owing to a cloud burst, a wall of water rushed down the valley at 9 P.M., sweeping the house from its foundation and carrying it three-fourths of a mile downstream, where it struck an obstruction and separated. The part containing the family stopped for a moment on a bank, and Mr. and Mrs. Root, each with a child, escaped through the upper sections of the windows. Soon getting to higher ground when the remainder of the house was swept on in the flood. The flood took all of his buildings, fences, stacks, etc. Mr. Root is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Root of Tomah." . He lived at his home in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI in September 1923. Between March 1926 and November 1937 Irvin was a farmer in Coles Valley, Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1930 in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. He died on 28 November 1937 at the age of 50 in Coles Valley, Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI. He took his own life with a gun. He suffered from severe depression after an operation for a poisoned goiter. Irvin was buried in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Woodlawn Cemetery.
	ix.	(Unknown Child II) ROOT was born before 1895 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. (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. 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.
	x.	Lottie Consulla ROOT was born on 14 June 1896 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1900 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1905 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Lottie appeared in the census in 1910 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She graduated in 1915 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. from Tomah High School. From her yearbook: "In typewriting she excels." She appeared in the census in 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She was living with her parents. Lottie was Lutheran after 1920 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She was a devout Lutheran. She lived at her home in Sterling, Whiteside County, IL in September 1923. She appeared in the census in 1930 in Sterling Township, Whiteside County, IL. Lottie appeared in the census in 1940 in Sterling Township, Whiteside County, IL. She appeared in the census in 1950 in Sterling Township, Whiteside County, IL. She died on 24 January 1981 at the age of 84 in Sterling Township, Whiteside County, IL. Lottie was buried on 27 January 1981. at Oak Knoll Memorial Park.