William Puloski Ireland was born on April 16, 1846 in Brownstown, Indiana to David and Mary Ann (Sanderson) Ireland.  He was the second born of at least five children.  In the early to mid 1850s, William’s family decided to move westward, stopping for a few years in Lucas County, Iowa before continuing their journey which ultimately led to Polk County, Oregon.  He met Cornelia Jane Staats and on February 10, 1869 they were married in Polk County.

William made his livelihood through farming and ranching, amassing a sizable amount of land over the years.  He and Cornelia raised a large family of eight children, seven of which matured to adulthood.

• Ora Dell m. Minnie Goodrich
• Annie L m. Columbus Tetherrow
• Perly Leon
• Clarence Edwin m. Stella Cooper
• Glenn O m. Harriet Brown
• William Willard m. Minta Taylor
• Fred Melvin m. Maud Whitaker
• Bessie m. Merrill Hammell

In 1912, William was widowed when Cornelia passed on.  About a year later, he married Ruthannah Murphy.  William died on January 17, 1918 at home following several weeks of heart issues.  Ruthannah and seven of his children survived him.

William is my 1st cousin 5x removed on my father’s side of the family.

References:

• The Weekly Gazette-Times (Corvallis, OR) from Newspapers.com
• United States Federal Census: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910
• Iowa State Census: 1856
• Oregon County Marriage Records
• Oregon Death Index
• Find A Grave