WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
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Biography transcribed & donated to Wabasha County, MN Bios by
Barbara Koska Timm.  For more information, please check
out her site "Biographies and Historical Sketches of Wabasha County,
Minnesota" at <http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio>.
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			HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY


            TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL MATTER, STATISTICS, ETC.
                   GATHERED FROM MATTER FURNISHED BY 
                       INTERVIEWS WITH OLD SETTLERS,
        COUNTY, TOWNSHIP AND OTHER RECORDS, AND EXTRACTS FROM 
                FILES OF PAPERS, PAMPHLETS, AND SUCH OTHER 
                     SOURCES AS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE. 

                                   ALSO A 

                        HISTORY OF WINONA COUNTY

                                  CHICAGO:
                      H. H. HILL & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS.
                                     1884




 Belden, Ira W., (a second entry follows this) blacksmith, is a grandson of Emanuel Belden, of 
 English descent. Erastus, son of Emanuel Belden, was born in New York, and became a successful 
 medical practitioner. He married Julia A. Lines, a native of the same state. On June 11, 1837, they 
 dwelt at Elyria, Ohio, at which time and place was ushered into existence the subject of this sketch. 
 They soon returned to Steuben county, New York, where Ira Belden was reared, attending the 
 common schools till sixteen years of age. He then began a three years' apprenticeship at his trade, 
 and after it was finished set off for the west. After a short time spent in Iowa, he settled at Frankford, 
 Fillmore county, this state, and brought his parents there. His father died there in 1866, and his mother 
 a year later, at Rochester. He was eight years constable at Frankford, and one term deputy-sheriff. 
 On the outbreak of the Sioux war in 1862, he enlisted in the Minnesota Rangers, and served fourteen 
 months on the frontier, taking part in several encounters. He then joined the 6th Minn. Inf., at Lake 
 Ponchatrain, and was with this regiment till its discharge, in November, 1865. The only severe 
 engagements were those required in reducing the forts about Mobile harbor. Immediately after the 
 close of the war he settled in Wabasha county, and has been in this neighborhood ever since. For one 
 year he tilled a farm in Bear valley. He is now in the employ of A. J. Taft, at Mazeppa. He has 
 always been a democrat, but has not voted for ten years. In regard to theology, is a Universalist. He 
 was married in 1857, to Amanda Raymond, a native of Green county, Wisconsin, and is the father of 
 seven children, all of whom are at home. Their names are: Scott E., Ralph O., Otho, Iris and Ira 
 (twins), Clyde and Lois.