From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, pages 277-280

  Joseph Irick, a retired farmer of Salamonie township, Huntington county, Indiana, was born in
  Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, January 17, 1829, and by perseverance and
  well-directed industry is now recognized as a prominent factor in all business affairs. He is the
  son of Andrew and Susanna (Null) Irick, and a grandson of Andrew Irick, who came from
  Germany to America, the first of the family to settle in this country, but he died before the birth
  of our subject. The father was born in Virginia May 16, 1787, but later went to Preble county,
  Ohio, where he became a thrifty and successful farmer. He was united in marriage with
  Susanna Null in 1813, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, January 1, 1796, and
  was a lassie of eight years at the time her parents moved to Ohio where she became the wife
  of Andrew Irick. During their younger years they were members of the Methodist Episcopal
  church, but in later life joined the United Brethren, and were earnest workers in the work of
  Christianity. The father died in 1860, and the mother in 1879. The children who were born to
  them were eight in number, and are widely scattered. They are as follows: Sarah, born in
  1815, died in 1900, was the beloved wife of Adam Surface; John, born in 1816, a farmer of
  Nodaway county, Missouri, married Delilah Doorman; Andrew, born in 1817, married Catherine
  Miltonbarger, and lived in Warren county, Ohio, where he died in 1846; Abraham, born in
  1819, was a prosperous farmer of this county, and resided near Huntington until his death, in
  1891, being twice married, first to Sarah Dowler, then to Lucinda Ewart; Isaac, born in 1821,
  married Deborah Cowgel, and resided in Logan county, Ohio, where he died in 1888; Jacob,
  born in 1824, married Elizabeth Shearer, and lived in Pike county, Illinois, where he died in
  1898; David, born in 1826, married Susanna Gephart, and died in Bates county, Missouri, in
  1889; and Joseph, whose name is at the head of this sketch.

  Joseph Irick and his brothers and sister received but a limited schooling, their education being
  obtained from the subscription schools of pioneer days. He was the youngest of the family, and
  remained at home until he reached his majority, farming and employing his time with useful
  labor. He remained in Preble county and carried on farming for ten years after his marriage,
  coming to Huntington county, Indiana, October 30, 1859. They brought with them two horses,
  aa wagon, some sheep and three cows, and located on the farm now occupied by them. This
  consisted of one hundred and sixty acres and was situated in the northwest quarter of section
  twenty-four, Salamonie township, covered by a heavy growth of timber and underbrush. A
  home was erected, trees cut off and the work of tilling the soil begun and carried on with so
  much vigor that in a few years little remained to tell of the early forest and its primeval
  condition. He afterward purchased an additional tract of one hundred and twenty acres in
  Salamonie township, part of which has been given as homes to his children. He ranks among
  the leading farmers of the county, and is a recognized leader in all matters pertaining to
  husbandry.

  November 29, 1849, Joseph Irick was united to Miss Catherine Gephart, whom he had chosen
  as his bride. She was a native of Preble county, Ohio, being a daughter of George and
  Elizabeth (Hoobler) Gephart, and a granddaughter of George and Elizabeth Gephart, all
  natives of Pennsylvania.

  Joseph Gephart was born January 19, 1797, and in 1805 was brought by the family to
  Montgomery county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, remaining with his parents until 1818,
  when he was united in marriage with Christina Hoobler, who was also born in Pennsylvania,
  the date of her birth being 1794. This couple passed their remaining years in Preble county,
  Ohio, where Mr. Gephart died in 1886, and his wife in 1850. Their children, ten in number, two
  sons and eight daughters, are as follows: George, born in 1819, was married to Elizabeth
  Pence, and moved to Huntington county, Indiana, where she died in 1881, and later married
  Mrs. Anna Stevens; Margaret, born in 1821, married John Medart, moved from Preble county,
  Ohio, thence to Michigan in 1871, where they both died; Elizabeth, born in 1823, married to Eli
  Gephart, a prosperous farmer of Montgomery county, Ohio, where they both died; Sarah, born
  in 1824, married Henry Gephart, of Montgomery county, Ohio, and moved to Huntington
  county, Indiana, where they became prosperous in farming, he dying in 1886; Michael, born in
  1825, died at the age of twenty years; Rosanna, born in 1827, married Jacob Shearer, a
  prosperous farmer of Preble county, Ohio; Catherine, born in 1829, married Joseph Irick, a
  farmer of Preble county, Ohio, and moved to Huntington county, Indiana, in 1859; Susan, born
  in 1831, married to David Irick, a farmer of Preble county, Ohio, later moved to Pike county,
  Illinois, and later to Bates county, Missouri, where he died; Mary, born in 1839, married to
  William Brady, a farmer of Montgomery county, Ohio; they moved to Huntington county,
  Indiana, where he died, and later she married Martin Eliott, of Warren, Indiana, who is also
  dead.

  Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Irick reared the following named children: Harvey M., born December 2,
  1850, is a leading farmer and grain thresher of Salamonie township, was married in 1876 to
  Almeda Poling, daughter of Silas and Margaret Poling, natives of Hocking county, Ohio, who
  removed to Indina and settled on a farm in Wells county, where Mrs. Poling died in 1875.
  Harvey M. and Almeda Irick have two children: Effie C., born October 6, 1877, married Archie
  E. Sliter June 12, 1889; and Pearl C., born June 23, 1881, married Henry Vernon December
  23, 1889. Amanda Jane was born October 22, 1852, and in 1873 became the wife of John W.
  Shaffer, son of George E. and Margaret Shaffer, natives of Ohio. Mr. Shaffer was for some
  years a farmer in Huntington county, and later proprietor of a hotel at Bluffton, Indiana, where
  he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have ten children: Otis E., born June 27, 1874, married
  Ida M. Taylor September 26, 1900; Lena M., born February 25, 1876; Glenna B., born March
  24, 1878; John D., born September 12, 1879; Catherine L., born December 18, 1881; Jessie
  O., born December 28, 1883; William E., born April 4, 1886; Mary M., born January 29, 1889;
  Vandora M., born December 28, 1890; Dale E., born November 29, 1896. Celista, who makes
  her home with her father, was born July 29, 1854, and in 1882 married Daniel Huffman, who
  died January 19, 1885, aged twenty-four years. He was a son of Frederick and Mary Huffman,
  natives of Wells county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and followed farming. He left two
  sons, Benjamin Edward, born January 15, 1883, and Daniel Theodore, born May 10, 1885.
  George H., born December 21, 1856, and is a successful farmer of Salmonie township. He
  was married in 1882 to Miss Phoebe C. Huffman, daughter of Frederick and Mary Huffman,
  and they have six children; Lawrence E., born February 15, 1883; Frank A., born May 18,
  1885; Frederick, born May 3, 1887; Matha, born July 20, 1889; Walter, born September 10,
  1892; and Ralph W., born October 23, 1900. William D. was born September 30, 1861, and
  was married October 13, 1894, to Miss Sarah M. Shumaker, of Preble county, Ohio. They
  have one daughter, Edith Fern, born July 7, 1900. Mrs. Irick is a daughter of Emanuel and
  Merriam Shumaker, natives of Maryland and Preble county, Ohio, respectively. Coming to
  Indiana, they settled on a farm in Grant county, and later removed to Arkansas, where the
  father died, and the mother subsequently died in Missouri. William D. and his family live on the
  homestead with our subject, where he was born, and conducts the farm. He is a leading young
  farmer of the county, a man of unusual ability and aptitude for the work he has chosen. Cora
  Alice was born June 15, 1869, and in 1888 married Jerome Minniear, a successful farmer of
  Rock Creek township; they have four children: Jennie G., born November 23, 1888; Lucy B.,
  born December 16, 1889; Joseph H., born April 19, 1891; and Marion R., born October 16,
  1900. Mr. Minniear is a son of Joseph and Rachael Minniear, natives of Ohio, who settled in
  Grant county, Indiana, and later removed to Huntington county.

  Joseph Irick has always been an advocate of the principles of Democracy, casting his first vote
  for Franklin Pierce in 1852, but he has never appeared in the role of office-seeker. The family
  are members of the United Brethren church, and are among the most honored residents of the
  county.