Mr. Irish is a representative of the second generation of that name who have resided on the homestead near Malden Bridge, in the town of Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y.  The house in which he was born, Aug. 9, 1801, and which has since undergone several alterations and improvements, was erected by his father, Amos Irish, in the year 1800.  The latter came from Quaker Hill, Dutchess Co., in 1795, where he was born about the commencement of the Revolution.  He reared his family on this farm, consisting of nine children out of eleven, the original number born to him and Deborah (Steves) Irish, whom he married on the second farm west of the present homestead.  She died in 1824, and Mr. Irish in 1846, leaving William in possession of the estate.  He was brought up to the occupation of farming, and received his education at the common schools, marrying, April 16, 1828, Harriet M. Ludington, daughter of Samuel Ludington, of Kinderhook.  She was born in Delhi, Delaware Co., N. Y., January 18, 1809, and her father settled in Kinderhook in 1812, where he died on his eighty-fourth birthday, February 6, 1861.  Her mother's maiden name was Sarah Degroff, born at Quaker Hill in 1779.  Her father was born in Woodbury, Conn., in 1777.

     Mr. and Mrs. William Irish have had seven children, five of whom are living at the date of this writing (June 1878).  Mr. Irish is a Democrat in politics, but he has lived a quiet life on his farm, filling several minor offices of trust to which he has been called by his townsmen with credit and fidelity, and enjoying the esteem and confidence of all who know him.  This highly-respected couple, who have lived over half a century in wedlock, sharing each other's joys and sorrows, celebrated their golden wedding April 16, 1878.