Sacramento County
Biographies
On January 1, 1926, occurred the death of one of
the most popular and public-spirited citizens of Sacramento, California. Ira
Milton Conran was one of the best known of the residents of the capital, and spent
many successful years in the service of the community, also was in many ways
identified with important affairs of the city. He was born August 7, 1869, at
Michigan Bar, Sacramento county, a son of John and Jennie (Gafford) Conran, the
former a native of Ireland, the latter of Missouri. John Conran came to
California when he was in his youth.
Ira M. Conran was educated in the
public schools of Sacramento and Santa Cruz. He was first employed by Charles
Robbin, a clothier, for a number of years, and later worked for a year with
George Clarke, an undertaker. He then entered the county sheriff’s office as a
tax collector, this work then having been done from this place. Next he became
under-sheriff during the incumbency of Sheriff David Reese. He was also
employed in the county clerk’s office under William Hamilton, and later was
associated with M.J. Sullivan as probation officer. For five years
subsequently, he served meritoriously as chief of police of Sacramento, his
term ending in 1920, when the commission form of government went into effect.
He served as county probation officer after resigning as head of the police
department, as was still later appointed a deputy under-sheriff, under Sheriff
Ellis Jones. Mr. Conran was a member of Washington Lodge, F. & A.M.; the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Native Sons of the Golden West, and
the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
On July 5, 1898, at Sacramento,
occurred the marriage of Ira M. Conran and Ottilia B. Ash, and to them was born
a daughter, Joan Virginia, at home, who is now teaching in the elementary
schools in Fruitridge, near Sacramento.
Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 38-39. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Debbie Walke Gramlick.