AARON IRELAN.  It is now our privilege to enter a brief review of the career of one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Darke county, and the province of a compilation of this nature is most perfectly realized in offering a resume of such character.  Aaron Abel Irelan, who is a resident of Hollansburg, Harrison township, is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born in Monroe township, Preble county, on the 12th of September, 1818, the son of Moses Irelan, who removed from Cincinnati to Preble county about 1816.  He was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 15, 1790, and his death occurred Nov. 22, 1872.  His father was Aaron Irelan, of an old and long-lived Pennsylvania family.  All of his brothers and sisters except one lived to advanced age, his death being the result of an accident, as he was killed by a horse, when about fifty years of age.  Grandfather Irelan removed from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and thence to Cincinnati, and he died in Coleraine township.  His widow subsequently married a man named Robinson, and she died of paralysis, at the age of eighty years.
     Moses Irelan married Hester Abel, who accompanied a family named Beten from New Jersey to Ohio when a child of seven years, in 1808.  She was born in 1799 and her marriage to Mr. Irelan was consummated when she was sixteen years of age.  Of their ten children we make record as follows:  Polly, wife of George Painter, died leaving five children; Aaron A. is the subject of this sketch; Dorcas was three times married and she died at the age of seventy-two, leaving three children; Ephraim died young; Hettie and Jane have both passed away, each leaving children; and the three others of the family died in infancy.  The mother died in 1837, and the father was again married, one child being the issue of this union.  He died Nov. 22, 1872, as before noted.
     Aaron A. Ireland was reared in the forests of the pioneer farm and he early became inured to hard work, aiding in the reclaiming and cultivation of the old homestead.  He remained with his parents until he had reached the age of twenty-five years, after which he engaged in huxtering for four years, beginning his independent career without cash or credit.  In 1845 he engaged in the general merchandise trade in Hollansburg, continuing this enterprise until 1852, when he determined to resume the pursuits to which he has bee very successful in his farming operations, having owned at one time six hundred and seventy-five acres, of which he still retains two hundred and forty acres of the most desirable and bet cultivated land in the county.  Though he has operated so extensively in the agricultural line he has continued to hold his mercantile interests until quite recently, when he disposed of the same. 
     On the 18th of October, 1841, Mr. Irelan was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Tillson, and they have had nine children, namely:  The first born was a son, who died in infancy; Josephine died at the age of five years; Norman Tillson is engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising, utilizing his father's farm and also his own place, of one hundred and sixty acres; he is married and has seven children; James died young; Isaiah died at the age of twelve years and George at the age of five; William A., a successful teacher, died in April, 1900, at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving a wife and three children; Cora Belle is the wife of Samuel Williams, of Greenville, and has four sons; and Leona is the wife of O. S. Downing and has five children.  The Tillson family is of good old New England stock, the original representatives having come to America in the Mayflower.  Aaron Irelan, grandfather of our subject, was a son of Dayton Irelan, who came to America from England prior to the Revolution, and his brother, who came with him, was taken prisoner and taken back to England, returning to the United States after the close of the war.  Dayton Irelan married Dorcus Buck, of New Jersey, and they have five sons and five daughters, all of whom attained adult age and were married in Ohio.  The present generation of the Irelan family is the eighth in line from the original American progenitor.
     Mr. Irelan is a Master Mason, having been identified with this time-honored fraternity for many years, and in politics he renders allegiance to the Democratic party, having served as township trustee for the long term of fifteen years and having also held the office of justice of the peace for a similar period.  Mrs. Irelan is a member of the Christian church.
     Rev. Hosea Tillson, an uncle of Mrs. Irelan, was born Nov. 24, 1810, and is still living, being a resident of Bethel, Indiana.  He is the tenth child of Luther and Mehitable Tillson, who removed from Woodstock, Connecticut, to Cincinnati, in 1802, and later to Butler county, Ohio, near the present site of Somerville, and their Hosea was born.  In 1817 the family removed to Darke county, near the Indiana line, and here, amid the perils and vicissitudes of pioneer life, he grew to manhood.  At the age of twenty-one years he married Jane A. Anderson, of Bethel, with whom he lived twenty-three years.  They reared one son, Reuben, who was a merchant, and at present postmaster of Hollansburg.  After the death of his first wife Mr. Tillson married Margaret Harlan, of Bethel, and their married life has extended over a period of forty years.  They are the parents of three daughters.  The Rev. Mr. Tillson is a sound Bible student and an unswerving advocate of truth and virtue.  In his patriarchal age he has the veneration of all who know him.  His father was for six years a sailor on the ocean and related many interesting tales of adventure and peril.  Rev. Mr. Tillson has been a licensed preacher in the Christian church for sixty-two years.  He settled in Bethel in 1866 and was an elder in the church for thirty-six years.  He lived close to the Indiana line and became very popular as "the marrying parson."
     Though for many years, Mr. Irelan has been in somewhat impaired health, he has nevertheless been a most active and energetic business man, having shown a mature judgment and due conservatism in the conduct of his large interests.  He is animated by the most absolute integrity of purpose and despises intrigue and dishonesty in every form.  His vigorous intellect would have insured him success in any field of endeavor, and though now an octogenarian he has more the appearance of a man of sixty.  He is recognized as the leading citizen of Hollansburg, and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 320
Sharon Wick's Note:  Click here for a little information (1)

WILLIAM J. IRWIN.     William J. Irwin is engaged in taking and executing contracts for public works and in this capacity has been in control of many extensive and important public interests.  He was born in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, Feb. 22, 1859, his parents being Stephen and Briget (Rooney) Irwin.  His father, Stephen Irwin, was born in the country of Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1829, and with his parents crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1847.  In 1854 he left this country and went to Canada, where the same year he was united in marriage, in Cobourg, to Bridget Rooney, who was born in county Leitrim, Ireland, in 1835.  She emigrated to Canada in 1847, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Irwin remained in that country until 1861, during which time their two oldest daughters and their son, William J., were born.  Their eldest child, born Nov. 22, 1855, was married, and their second daughter was Annie, born May 22, 1857.  Their family now numbers eight children, of which number three sons and three daughters are yet living.  In 1861 the parents removed with their three children to Montgomery county, Ohio, taking up their abode in Dayton, where, on the 24th of March, 1861, their son, Felix, was born.  The other children are:  John, born Dec. 28, 1862; James, born May 30, 1867; and Stephen Edward, born Aug. 24, 1870.  All are living at the present writing with the exception of John and James.  In 1864 Stephen Irwin enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Regiment of Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until July 4, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.  He then returned to his home and soon afterward removed with his family to Dayton, Ohio, where he resided until 1868, when they went to West Baltimore, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. In 1874 the mother was called to her final rest, and five years later, in 1879, Stephen Irwin went with the rest, locating in Scott county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1885.  He then returned to the Buckeye state and made his home with his son, William J., until 1898, when he went to the National Military Home, in Dayton, Ohio, where he still resides.
     William J. Irwin received the ordinary county school education privileges and assisted his father in the work of the home farm until 1879, when he began taking contracts for putting in drainage ditches upon farms.  He did considerable work of this character in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa and was frequently awarded such contracts by county commissioners.  In 1881 he went to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he engaged in county work.  In this work he was very successful and continued there until 1883, when he returned to Ohio and in partnership with A. Gallagher continued to take public contracts for drainage in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.  In 1888, however, he dissolved partnership with Mr. Gallagher and continued in business alone.  He also began taking contracts for sewer, street and municipal work, carrying on the business until 1889, when he went into partnership with M. A. Maher, of Greenville, Ohio, a connection that was maintained until 1892.  That partnership in the business.  In 1894 the Greenville Construction Company was formed as an incorporated stock company, of which Mr. Irwin was general manager.  He does general contracting, making a specialty, however, of street and sewer work.  In 1897 he built a system of sewers in Chihuahua, Mexico, being the first system completed in Mexico.  In 1898 he entered into partnership with his two brothers, Stephen Edward and Felix, under the name of Irwin Brothers.  In 1899 he began the manufacture of building brick, establishing a yard at Greenville, where he manufactured all grades of brick.  In connection with his other interests he carried on farming, owning a valuable tract of land, which is pleasantly and conveniently located a mile south of Greenville.  In the manufacture of brick he is meeting with excellent success, finding a good market from his products.  His various business interests amount to over two hundred thousand dollars annually, for the different firms with which he is connected employ from five hundred to eight hundred men.
     In 1885 Mr. Irwin was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Dwyre, a daughter of Martin and Mary Dwyre.  She was born and reared in Darke county and her parents were natives of Ireland, but became early settlers of this locality.  The mother died Mar. 21, 1896, and the father passed away a year later.  Mr. and Mrs. Irwin now have five children:  William E., Mary Beatrice, Helen, Catherin and Irene.  Their home is a very substantial brick residence at No. 451 East Fourth street, and as the result of his result of his success in business Mr. Irwin is enabled to surround his family with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.  He is a well informed man, possessing broad general information, and in his nature there is nothing narrow or contracted.  He has a spirit that, while devoted to his residence community, is liberal, recognizing and appreciating advancement and progress in any other part of the world.  His actions have during his life been such as to distinctively entitle him to a place in this publication, and although his career has not been filled with thrilling incidents, probably no biography published in this book can serve as a better illustration to young men of the power of honesty, integrity and enterprise in securing success.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 576

(1)  Found Aaron Ireland in 1900 Census - Harrison Twp., Darke Co. ,Ohio on 22nd day of June 1900. 
NARA Film Series: T623  Sheet 21B
Dwelling 497  Family 507
Irelan, Aaron A.  Head, W M Sept. 1818 ae. 81 yrs. Md 33 yrs.  b. Ohio   Fath. b. New Jersey  Moth. b. New Jersey
-- , Phoebe  Wife, W F Apr. 1830 ae 70 yrs.  Md. 33 yrs.  9 children 3 children living  b. Ohio  Fath. b. Vermont  Moth. b. Ohio
Living at Dwelling 496 Family506
Ireland, Norman L.  Head W M Dec. 1851 ae 48 yrs. Md. 25 yrs.  b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. OH
-- , Clara M.  Wife  W F Jan. 1866 ae 44 yrs Md. 25 yrs.  8 children 7 children living  b. IND  Fath. b. IND  Moth. b. IND
-- , Nora        Dau. W F June 1879  ae 21 S  b. OH  Fath b. OH  Moth b. IND
-- , Rose Ona  Dau. W F Sep. 1880 ae 19 yrs. S  b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. IND
-- , George A.  Son W M Aug. 1882  ae 17 yrs.  S  b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. IND
-- , Charley L.(T?)  Son W M Dec. 1883 ae 16 yrs.  S   b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. IND
-- , Ora G.        Son W M Oct. 1887  ae 12 yrs. S  b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. IND
-- , Izetta G.    Dau W F Feb. 1891 ae 9 yrs.  S   b. OH  Fath. b. OH  Moth. b. IND
----------
Found in 1910 Census - Harrison Twp., Darke Co., OH on 28th & 29th day of Apr. 1910
NARA Film Series T1283  Sheet 4A
Bethel Road
Dwelling  71  Family 75
Irelan, Aaron     Head  M W ae 91 yrs. M1 63 yrs.  b. OH  Fath. b. PA  Moth. b. NJ
-- Phebe             Wife  F W ae 80 yrs.  M1  63 yrs.  b. OH  Fath. b. VT  Moth. b. OH