Reedsburg Free Press 
Thursday, November 21, 1918 
page 1 
 
OBITUARY 
FRANCIS BYRNE 
 
With the death of Francis Byrne of Ironton on Nov. 6 passed one of the remarkable pioneers of this section. Although he had been in failing health for a year his family and a large circle of frineds were shocked at his sudden ending resulting from a hemmorage of the brain. 
 
Mr. Byrne was born in County Cavan, Ireland as was 76 years of age. He had come to Lancaster, Ohio with his parents as a child and in 1859 they decided to try their fortunes in the west and made the trip by wagon to Richland Center. Francis, then 17 was obliged to add to the family income and after a year in the employ of Jas. Babb at Reedsburg he returned to Ironton and asked for work at the iron foundry then opening. His first task was the clearing of the forest.

Contributed by Vicki Pierce