The History of El Dorado County, California by P. Sioli, page 249 and
Georgetown, Pride of the Mountains by Leonard M. Davis and Sheryl Rambeau, page A17
Joseph Irish is a son of Freeman and Almeda (Rowe) Irish, of Oxford county, Maine, where he was born on October 6, 1832. He worked on a farm till 21 years of age, then went to learn the shoemaker's trade. He worked at this trade in the town of Randolph, Massachusetts, until 1853 when he emigrated to California and located on Dry creek, below Placerville. In 1864 he removed to Bear creek and engaged in operating a saw mill, now owned by Reuben Demuth. In 1876 he moved to he present home of 240 acres, on which he grows all kinds of fruit and does a general farming business. He was married in 1856 to Mary Russell a native of Boston, Massachusetts. They have a family of four daughters and two sons, vis: Charles F., Mary E., Franklin H., Rosa A., Ella M. and Alice J. Mr. Irish is a member of the I.O.O.F., and Ancient Order of United Workmen at Georgetown.
Joseph Irish died on April 5, 1898 at the age of 65 years and 6 months; his wife Mary followed him in death on December 3 of the same year. She was 64 years, 9 months and 27 days old at the time of her death.