Irbyi  
 

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     I. IRBY.  There are few of the pioneer settlers of Lincoln county who are not well acquainted with the familiar name at the head of this article.  Irby station is named from the family and the subject of this sketch has been closely identified with the interests of Lincoln county from the earliest days.  He invaded the wilds here when white men could be counted on one's fingers that dwelt in the entire Big Bend country, and when Spokane was yet to be, and established himself with his father in the stock business in the territory now included in the southwestern part of the county.  Thus having been closely identified with the development and upbuilding of the country, it would evidently be a breach of faith and judgment not to incorporate an epitome of his career in this volume.
     I. Irby was born in Vancouver, Washington, on June 21, 1857, being the son of Hon. Charles S. and Margaret (Burchfield) Irby.  The father was a native of Tennessee and came to Vancouver in 1852, bringing his family, which was one of the very first to settle there.  He operated as a stock raiser and buyer and gained excellent success until 1862, when the hard winter of that year swept away his holdings largely.  He gathered together what was left and bravely made another start in life and was later again the favored recipient from Dame Fortune.  Twice the people where he resided chose him to represent them in the territorial lgislature and he was a leading figure in the house.  To this gentleman and his brave and faithful wife, there were born seven children, named as follows: Amanda, wife of T. E. Jennings, of Spangle; Catherine, wife of J. M. Goodwin, of Yakima, Washington; John, who died in 1866; Ira I., who is the immediate subject of this article; J. D., of Spokane; Laura, wife of Henry Cruse; and Lucy, who died in infancy.
     The gentleman of whom we now have the pleasure of speaking had the good fortune to be a son of the Evergreen State, which legacy, in those days meant something.  He was reared in the surroundings of a frontier home and his educational training was received from the schools that existed then, and from studious personal research with a well informed father.  When he was eighteen, he came with his parents to the Big Bend country and settlement was made not far from where Irby station is now located.  He engaged in stock raising with his father, and from that time until two years since, he was one of the prominent men in the whole Big Bend country.  Mr. Irby gained this distinction, not by putting himself forward, but by manifestation of genuine business ability, by carefully maintaining his upright principles and by conserving the best interests of the country with an energy and sagacity that could but win approval and secure the success that he deserved.  Two years since Mr. Irby desired to retire more from active life in the stock business and sold a portion of his interests and removed to Spokane.  He purchased the Ross Park grocery business at the corner of Montgomery and Hamilton, which is now handled under the incorporate name of Irby & McCollough with excellent patronage.  Mr. Irby desired especially to open a business for his son, who is also in the store.
     The marriage of Mr. Irby occurred when Miss Letitia, daughter of William Bingham, became his bride.  Mr. Bingham was a native of New York state and one of the first pioneers of Washington, coming as early as 1842 and being one of the first settlers in the Walla Walla country.  To Mr. and Mrs. Irby, three children have been born, William L., aged nineteen; Francis, and Edna.  Mr. Irby is affiliated with Spokane Lodge, No. 228, B. P. 0. E.
     By way of reminiscence, it is interesting to note that when Mr. Irby came to the Big Bend, the nearest postoffice was at Walla Walla.  When Chief Joseph's war hordes swept the country, Mr. Irby and all his people were forced to leave their residence and seek shelter in fortifications.  This was in 1877.  Our subject has seen all phases of pioneer life and it has developed a man of substantial qualities, worth and energy.  He could recite many interesting accounts of early days and the times when Spokane was yet unknown and the country a wild roaming place for savages.  He is a worthy son of the foremost state of the northwest and such as he are they who have made Washington deserving of recognition by a nation, through their arduous labors and continued faithfulness.  Generations yet to come will read of these pioneers, and their deeds will be recalled with pleasant memories, for they builded broad and deep the foundations of this great state and fostered the industries which today are making her really famous.  All credit and honor be given to these brave men and women, who fought back the savages, and reared their humble homes in the wilds, there to remain and wrest from stubborn Nature the key to her choicest treasuries, which have been so lavishly opened to the later homeseekers.  To these men of brawn and brain be the distinction and in the gates let their works praise them.
 
 

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