Ira Butcher, an active and enterprising business man and
proprietor of the tile factory located in the western part of Portland, is a
native of Jay County, Indiana, born in Greene Township March 7 1850, his
parents, Christian and Mary E. (Hofman) Butcher, being among the early
settlers of the county. He was reared to the vocation of a farmer on his
father’s farm, and in his youth learned lessons of persevering industry,
being early inured to hard work August 4, 1874, he was united in marriage to
Miss Christiann Detamore, a native of Preble County, Ohio, and a daughter of
Joseph Detamore.
They are the parents of two children – Mary
E and Barbara Alice. In March 1874, Mr. Butcher came to Portland, and soon
after engaged in working at the plasterer’s trade. In the fall of 1884, in
partnership with his brother-in-law, John Detamore, he established his
present large tile factory, on a tract of three acres, which he had
purchased from Ira Denney, and in the spring of 1886, he bought Mr.
Detamore’s interest in the business, of which he has since been sole
proprietor, in which he is meeting with excellent success. During the year
1886 he manufactured about $4,000 worth of tile, and this year, 1887, will
probably reach $5,000. He manufactures all sizes of tile, ranging from two
to twelve inches. In April, 1887, a gas well was sunk on a lot near his
premises, and he will no doubt be the first man in Jay County to burn tile
with gas. Mrs. Butcher is a member of the Methodist Church.
Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana
Lewis
Publishing Co, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox