Iru Studley Todd7, (Justus6, Asa5, Gershom4, Gershom3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Oct. 23, 1809, died Feb. 4, 1882, at his home in Roberts Meadow, Northampton, Mass., of pneumonia, married March 24, 1836, Julianna, daughter of John and Rosina (Knapp) Root, who was born Sept. 20, 1814, died April 6, 1893. She was a descendant of Thomas Root, who was one of the first settlers of Northampton, Mass., and was one of the “pillars” of the church when it was first organized in that town.
He passed his childhood days in West Chesterfield, Mass., where he was born. When he was about twenty-one years of age, he hired out to Mr. Moody who owned and operated a large farm and tannery located in Roberts Meadow which is a part of Northampton, Mass. The first two years or so of his married life, he passed in West Farms, also a part of Northampton, Mass., after which, he returned to Roberts Meadow and purchased the place where his wife was born, buying out the other heirs. He was very shrewd in his business ventures, and became a very successful farmer. Besides operating the farm, he had charge of all the roads in the western half of the town. At another time, he had the charge of some of the construction work on the first reservoir built by the town.
It is told that when he started out in life at the age of twenty-one, he had just three cents in his pocket, and all he was worth at the time of his death, he had accumulated from his own efforts and with his good wifes assistance, besides having brought up a family of eight children.
Children:
*1664. Juliette, b. June 20, 1836.
*1665. Ira Gardner, b. Oct. 2, 1837.
1666. Irene Bishop, b. Dec. 13, 1839, m. May 10, 1862, Luther A., son of Joseph Martin, who was b. May 11, 1837, d. May 8, 1913. She is living now (1920) in Florence, Mass.
1667. Caroline, b. Dec. 20, 1841, d. Jan. 23, 1843.
*1668. Carrie, b. June 29, 1844.
*1669. John Root, b. Oct. 3, 1847.
*1670. Rosa Knapp, b. April 3, 1851.
*1671. Josephine B., b. Feb. 12, 1853.