IRA JACKSON, president of the Board of County Commissioners of Miami County, a body of intelligent and public-spirited men, is a prominent citizen and a representative agriculturist, having resided all his life on a farm. He was born in 1867, in Butler Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, near the line of Miami County. J. L. Jackson, the father of Ira Jackson, was born in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. In 1864 he came to Ohio and located in Montgomery County and still resides on his farm in Butler Township.

Ira Jackson was reared and educated in Montgomery County and continued to reside there until after his marriage in 1892. He then moved to a farm in Union Township, Miami County, which he continued to cultivate and improve until 1906, when he purchased his present valuable farm of 175 acres, which is situated in Monroe Township. Mr. Jackson has thus been identified with agricultural pursuits all his life and is one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of this section of Ohio. For a number of years he has made a specialty of Duroc Jersey swine and his annual sale, in February, is always eagerly anticipated by other breeders of fine stock. On December 16, 1892, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Minnie Eidemiller, who was born and reared in Miami County, a daughter of the late George W. Eidemiller, a well known citizen.

Mr. Jackson is a prominent factor in politics in Miami County and has frequently served in offices of responsibility. He was first elected county commissioner in November, 1902, and was re- elected in 1905 and made president of the board, his present term expiring on the third Monday in September, 1909. He is affiliated with the Masons and the Odd Fellows and belongs also to the International Stock Exposition of Chicago and to the American and National Duroc Jersey Association.