George G. Irle. In the famous farming district of Champaign County, where the possession of land spells prosperity, one of the active factors today is Mr. George G. Irle, whose well managed place is in section 16 of Somer Township. Mr. Irle began farming here over fifty-five years ago, and has been through practically every phase of experience as an Illinois farmer. He has had low prices and high prices for his crops, and through seasons both good and bad he has contrived to prosper and to grow in influence and affluence.
Mr. Irle has lived in Champaign County since childhood, but was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1852. His parents were Henry W. and Christina (Hohn) Irle. Both parents were born in Germany, the mother in Nassau. Henry W. Irle came to America in 1848, locating at Philadelphia, where he followed the trade of brass founder. In 1862 he brought his family west to Champaign County, and changing his occupation located on a farm in Somer Township. He became one of the substantial men of that district, and lived a long and useful career. His death occurred July 27, 1901. His wife passed away August 16, 1884. Their five children were: Hulda, deceased; Francesca, who died in infancy; George G.; Henry H., deceased; and Francesca, wife of Thomas B. Thornburn, of Urbana, Illinois.
George G. Irle was ten years of age when his parents came to Champaign County. In 1859, when a boy of seven, he had an exciting experience and barely escaped becoming victim of a famous kidnapping case in Philadelphia. It all happened on Christmas Eve. On the same night and on the same street in the year 1876 a boy named Charlie Ross was kidnapped.
After coming to Champaign George G. Irle attended the local schools and lived with his father on the farm until 1880. He then went for himself, buying sixty acres in Somer Township. By diligence and efficiency his success has been a progressive one, and at different times he has purchased more lands until he now owns 376 acres in section 16 and twenty-four acres at another place in the township. He has pursued the plan of general farming and stock raising and is one of the men who have demonstrated the possibilities of successful farming on the high priced land of Champaign County. Mr. Irle started life with comparatively little, and for some years he and his wife lived in a log cabin home.
On March 17, 1881, he married Mary F. Arnold, who was born in Champaign County. They have four children: Anna, wife of John H. Pierce, of Bloomington, Illinois; George W., of Buhl, Idaho; William H., of Hamer, Idaho; and Nettie, who lives at home and is in the training school for nurses of Burnham’s Hospital.
Mr. Irle has not neglected the interests of the community in which he lives, and has shown himself a public spirited citizen. He has served as commissioner of highways, as tax collector and for over thirty years was a director of his home school district. He is a republican and a member of the German Lutheran Church. His post office is Leverett.