110 MEN I HAVE FISHED WITH. 



with an inscription commending his mode of handling 

 fires. The leading citizens and merchants of Syracuse 

 presented him with a costly watch in recognition of his 

 efficient service. 



In 1867 Ira married Miss Brinckerhoff, of Albany, 

 who, with one son, Frederic K. Wood, survives him. He 

 was born in Greenbush, N. Y., May 18, 1834, and died 

 at Albany, N. Y., April 6, 1886, after an illness of only 

 three days, caused by some bladder trouble. He was an 

 enthusiastic Mason and Grand Army man. He attained 

 the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, 

 and was Adjutant of George S. Dawson Post, G. A. R., of 

 Albany. He was buried with services of the G. A. R. 

 and with those of the Knights Templar, these organiza- 

 tions attending in uniform. It was also my privilege to 

 witness the last sad rites over the friend of a lifetime, one 

 of the bravest, truest and gentlest men that ever trod the 

 earth. 



Ira went to Albany in 1883 as head of a branch of the 

 house of Pierce, Butler & Pierce, of Syracuse. Long be- 

 fore this his fame as a fly-caster and winner of prizes at 

 tournaments of the State Association for Protection of 

 Game, held at Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, had 

 drifted eastward, but not until the tournament of the 

 State Association was held at Coney Island in June, 1881, 

 when I superintended the fly-casting contests, did we 

 clasp hands since we parted in Albany, some twenty-seven 

 years before. 



"Why, you old duffer! You have been in a flour mill! 

 Your hair is all white! Take off your hat and I'll dust 

 you off!" 



"Yes, that'll all come off, but your head is mildewed, 

 and you'll have to bleach it in the sun to kill the mould." 



His record in that tournament was 101 feet with a 



