Ireland, Richard W.

Born: 1822-XX-XX Tennessee

Died: 1871-03-18 Tazewell County, Illinois

Flourished: Tazewell County, Illinois

Richard W. Ireland was an attorney, circuit court clerk, and deputy sheriff in Tazewell County, Illinois. In the mid 1840s, he served as a deputy sheriff. He moved to Pekin around 1848 or 1849. From 1849 to 1853, Ireland was clerk of the Tazewell County Circuit Court. As deputy sheriff and circuit court clerk, Ireland was involved in several court cases involving Abraham Lincoln and his partners. After his stint as clerk, he practiced law in partnership with many prominent attorneys in Tazewell County. In 1860, Ireland was practicing law and living in Pekin and owned real property valued at $6,000.

History of Tazewell County Illinois (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman, 1879), 388, 713; For Ireland's cases involving Lincoln, search "Ireland, Richard W.," The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Pekin, Tazewell County, IL, 1; Gravestone, Tennessee Point Cemetery, Tremont, IL.