IRA FIKE, for many years a resident of the State of Wisconsin, was born in Ontario, Canada, August 26, 1844. His father, Samuel Fike, was born at Fort Hope, Ontario, Canada, in 1809, and still lives in the Dominion. He is a farmer by occupation, and has accumulated considerable property. He married Ann Losey, also a native of Canada the paternal ancestors are descended from the Germans, and the mother's forefathers came from Ireland and England. Mr. and Mrs. Fike are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have had born to them eleven children: Ira, Sidney, Sarah, George, Adelaide, Alice, Allen, Martha, Lydia, Agnes, and Carrie, deceased.

Ira Fike was reared in his native country, and received the practical training of a farmer he attended the common schools of that day, and until he was twenty years of age remained under the parental roof, giving the benefit of his labors to his father. When he started out for himself he came to the United States, locating in Jefferson County, New York. There he followed the occupation of farming until there was a call for men to go to the defense of this nation in 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, as a private and served until peace was declared. He was at the taking of Petersburg, and in many minor engagements was mustered out at Alexandria, Virginia, in July, 1865, and honorably discharged. After the close of the war he returned to New York and resided in Oswego County until 1867 in that year he came to Wisconsin, locating in Adams County, where he made his home until 1871, coming at that time to Clark County, and purchasing the farm where he now lives he owns 160 acres on Section 22, and 160 acres on Section 26, Fremont Township. He has given all his time and attention to the cultivation of the soil, and in the season has been engaged to some extent in logging. The only capital which he had in the beginning of his business career was willing hands and a determination to win his share of this world's goods, and in this he has been more than successful.

Mr. Fike is a Republican, and has served as chairman of the Town Board for nine years. For three years he was superintendent of the county poor farm, displaying unusual capabilities in the management of this institution, and was two years chairman of the County Board. He is a member of Master Lodge, No. 163, A.F. A.M., and of Lodge No. 198, I.O.O.F., and Black River Lodge, No. 32, A.O.U.W.

Our subject was united in marriage April 3, 1867, to Miss Frances C. Polmatier, of Oswego County, New York. She was born in Columbia County, New York, March 30, 1842, and is a daughter of Elias and Rebecca (Simmons) Polmatier, natives of New York. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fike, Samuel E., who first saw the light of day December 13, 1868.