Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-04

against aim. The La Crosse bridge
bill, which was vetoed by the gov
ernor which veto was sus-
tanned by the votes of Mr..
Irish and others, gave opportunity
10 test the mettle of honest men.
While rumors of bribery and corrup-
ton were rife during that stormy time
no faintest breath fell upon Mr.. Irish.
He returned to his constituents with
the satisfaction of having done his
duty. In June. 1873 he was appointed
register OF the United States land office
at Eau Claire, and removed there with
his family. He retained this office
until April, 1875, when he resigned the
office, it interfering with his chosen
profession of minister of the gospel
He was appointed United States con-
sui to Cognac, France, in the spring of
1884, through the influence of Gov
Rusk and improved the opportunity of
his stay abroad for study and travel
He came home in the fall of 1886 and
resigned voluntarily and resumed min
iSterial work. In August, 1892, he was
appointed chaplain in the t. S. army.
He served a short time with the 10Th
L. S. infantry at FIT. Brady, Mich, and
was then ordered to Fl. Meade in the
black hills of South Dakota, the head
quarters at that time and until last
fall of the Sth L. S. cavalry. Here he
served very acceptably for four years.
winning the highest regard of his
brother officers and the sincere respect
and esteem of the troops. In 1895 his
health began to be seriously affected
by the nigh altitluo and arid climate.
but he struggled brayely on for a year,
unwilling to surrender his work, but
he was finally compelled to take sick
leave, which was extended from month
10 month until he was ordered home
TO await retirement While on sick
leave he spent a winter in Florida.
hoping for restoration in that land of
flowers anu sunshine and balmy air:
but while there he suffered a stroke of
partial paralysis and came home to the
new and beautiful home he was pre-
pairing in South Madison, sitting under
a shadow which was never wholly lift
ca until the light of eternity dawned
upon him. Mr.. Irish always loved
Madison and consequently selected it
as the place to pass his closing years.
During his severe affection he has had
the sympathy of host of friends.
DR.. Irish was pronounced by those
capable to judge as one of the leading
preachers of the state. He was at diff
ferent times pastor of churches at New
Richmond, Hudson, twice at Baraboo
Portage, Monroe, Madison and other
places. He was especially successful in
raising money and paying off indebted
at Madison when the present Fair
store was the Methodist church. At
that time he had the plans drawn for
the present edifice and began securing
funds for its erection. He was presid-
ing elder of the St. CroiX district and
later of the Madison district. He
served for a number of years on the
board of trustees of Lawrence univer-
sity and for three years was president
of that board. While trustee he was
also elected financial agent of the uni
versity and secured many thousands of
dollars for the institution during the
short time he held the position. He
served one year as agent of the fund
for WORKOUT preachers of the west
Wisconsin conference and was very
Dr. Irish was reserve dele
gate to the general conferences of 1876
and 1880, and delegate in 1884, the con-
ference meeting at Philadelphia At
the close of the conference DR.. and
Mrs. Irish and two sons sailed for
Europe. the doctor having been APP
pointed consul at Cognac, France.
DR.. Irish would have been G6 years
old the 18th of August. He leaves
wife, Mrs Isabella H. Irish, and six
children, Mrs. Jessie NJ. Little and Mrs.
Lilly b. McCollister of Baraboo;
Charles A. of Springfield, Mo-; Ralph
O.. of Oakfeld, Wis, Fred p of Mil
waukee and Frank w. of Portland,
Greg.