Ira French Prouty, M. D., son of Willard and Sally Prouty. of Langdon, N. H., was born November 9, 1812, and came to Keene in 1863, After leaving the district school he attended the academies of Bellows Falls and Chester, Vt. He studied medicine with Dr. Lowell, of Chester, and later with Dr. Lawrence, of Saxtons River. He attended lectures at Woodstock and Dartmouth medical schools, graduating from the latter in May 1837. He immediately went to Illinois, where he practiced his profession about a year. Leaving the West, he came to Chesterfield Factory, and was afterward located in Alstead and Stoddard, N. H. In 1855 he removed to Ogdensburg, N. Y., and engaged in the wholesale drug business. For a short time previous to his advent in Keene he was practicing medicine in Chateaugay, N. Y. He was a member of the board of education from its organization in 1867 until 1875, and for several years was superintending committee of the suburban schools. He was a member of the legislature in 1872-73, and during the latter term was instrumental in procuring from the state an appropriation in aid of Dartmouth college. In 1877-78 he was a member of board of the aldermen from the third ward. In February, 1839, Dr. Prouty was married in Alstead to Emily F. Babcock, who died in October, 1849.
In January, 1855, he married Elsie, only daughter of Dea. Luke and Lydia Joslin, of Stoddard. He died January 17, 1882, leaving a wife, son and daughter, who still survive him.