“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1879.


JUDGE IRA W. BIRD, attorney at law, Jefferson; was born in Oneida 
Co., N.Y., March 17, 1819; came to Milwaukee in 1836; remained two 
years, and in 1838, went to Madison, Wis.; was elected member of the 
State Legislature from Madison at the second session; was Sheriff of 
Dane Co.; also Register of Deeds three or four years; went to California 
and returned in 1852; in the spring of 1854, came to Jefferson, where he 
has since remained; has been Town Clerk, member of Board of 
Supervisors and Clerk of same; has also been elected Circuit Clerk, and 
served three terms as County Judge of Jefferson Co.  He married 
Antoinette Brayton; had one child – Ella A., born in October, 1853, who 
married R. B. Kirkland, now in Jefferson.  His second wife was Emily 
M. Howse; they have three children – Ralph, Belle and Janet.  Mr. B. 
was tendered the office of Judge for the fourth term, but declined the 
nomination.  He was the first Mayor of Jefferson, and the last President 
of the Village Board under the old organization.


Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)