My Genealogy Hound

IRA ABBOTT, dry goods and groceries, Danvers; was born in Bath, Grafton Co., N. H., Feb. 17, 1828. His early life was that of a farmer’s son. In addition to his common-school education, he attended select schools of a high grade, at Newbury and St. Johnsbury, Vt. In 1851, he came West to Missouri, and engaged in farming, near the present town of Dalton. In the fall of 1853, he went south to Louisiana, and engaged in gardening, near the city of New Orleans. In May, 1854, he settled in Danvers, McLean Co., Ill., where he has since resided. Here he engaged in merchandising, and has been conducting the dry goods and grocery business longer than any other merchant in the village. He was married, in 1851, to Martha F. Stange, of Lynchburg, Va. Six children — five boys and one daughter — have been born to them Robert, George, Arthur, Frank, Mary, Walter. Of these, Frank and Walter are dead. Mr. Abbott was appointed Postmaster in 1861, under the administration of A. Lincoln. Under the reign of Andy Johnson, he was ousted, but re-appointed under the administration of U. S. Grant, and has since held the position. Mr. Abbott has always taken a deep interest in whatever tended to the improvement and advancement of the interests of his village, and has always been liberal in furthering its various enterprises.