Ira J. Lindley was born in 1820 in Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana, his father, Francis, was 26 and his mother, Frances, "Fanny" was 20. He married Euphemia Farrar on May 27, 1843, in Indiana. They had six children in 10 years. He grew up living along the Ohio River working in his father's Tannery and farming. The Ohio River was the highway of the times and Ira became a Steam Boat Captain. Around 1850 Ira and William Hall, a prominent Vevay Businessman and Town Treasurer became the Proprietors of the Vevay Wharf Boat Company. They also operated a shipping company and shipped produce and goods on the Ohio River. During the Civil War Ira was a sutler for the 6th Indiana and shipped hay, produce, and other goods south to the Union troops on flat boats. It was during the Civil War after returning from a trip south to supply Union troops he fell ill with malaria suffering with a high fever and hallucinations for seven days before dying. He passed away at home on March 24, 1863, at the age of 43, and was buried in the Vevay Cemetery.