USA > Iowa > Story County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
George Danskin, farmer and stock-raiser, Sherman Township. Mr. Danskin has been identified with the agricultural affairs of Story County for nearly a quarter of a century, and during this time he has contributed not a little to its reputation as a rich farming community. He came here in 1868, and for the first six years cultivated rented land; later he purchased and afterward sold different farms, until he finally settled on his present property, comprising 160
-
312
HISTORY OF IOWA.
acres, in the spring of 1879, and he has ever since devoted his attention to tilling this land, and now has it well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Besides his farming operations, which he carries on quite exten- sively, he is interested in stock-raising, and is grading into the Polled Angus cattle. As he was reared on a farm, he was early initiated in the duties of farm life, and it is not to be won- dered at that, upon attaining his twenty-first year, in 1856, he chose farming as his occupa- tion in life, and has pursued this calling with such eminent success ever since. His marriage to Miss Mary McNeal, a native of the "Em- pire State," was consummated in 1857, and they became the parents of seven children: Roxie (now Mrs. Laundsbury), James (de- ceased), Lydia (now Mrs. D. W. Shaw, of this township), Ira (of Tama City), Jennie (now Mrs. Keith, of Larrabee, Iowa), Hattie (now Mrs. Eckels, of Nevada Township), and Ida. The wife died in 1879, and after remaining a widower for three years Mr. Danskin led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Clyde, of Kingston, Canada, and by this last marriage is the father of three children: Melville, Clyde and Roy, all at home. In his political views Mr. Danskin affiliates with the Republican party, and belongs to the Alliance. His wife is a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church. He helped to organ- ize the school district, and has always been liberal in support of schools and churches, as well as all laudable public enterprises. His parents were James and Lydia Danskin, and both of them were natives of the " Empire State."
John E. Davis. In enumerating the en- terprising and progressive agriculturists and stockmen of Story County, Mr. Davis must not be overlooked, for he is acknowledged by all to be one of the leading men of the com- munity. He first opened his eyes to the
light of this world in Ontario County, N. Y., August 18, 1833. His father, Cornelius Davis, was of English extraction. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed this pur- suit in his native State (Connecticut), and later in New York. By his marriage with Miss Sabrina Hawley he became the father of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and but three of these sons are now living. John E. Davis attained his growth in his native county, where he also obtained a good common-school education. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Illinois, but after one year spent in that State he returned to New York, and the next fourteen years of his life were spent unevent- fully in that State in tilling the soil. Being afflicted with the asthma, and thinking the cli- mate of Northern Iowa would be beneficial, he disposed of his interests in New York, and in 1868 came to Story County, Iowa, where he has ever since been an honored resident. His farm comprises 252 acres of good tillable land, most of it under cultivation, and well improved with a fine two-story brick house, a barn 50x56x24 feet, besides a cow barn 16x48 feet, and a granary and shedding attached. For a number of years he has been devoting consid- erable attention to stock-raising ; he owns twenty- six head of horses, including some high-grade Norman mares and a trotting Morgan stallion and mares, about forty head of graded Short- horn and Angus cattle, and some 200 head of registered Poland China and full-blood hogs. In Monroe County, N. Y., in 1859, his marriage with Miss Sarah A. Atchinson was consum- mated, and their married life was blessed with the following children: Herbert M. (now twenty-seven years of age, married Miss Carrie L. Nelson, and they make their home on his father's farm), George S. (born in February, 1866, was killed in a collision in December, 1888,) and Hugh C. (is now eighteen years of
313
STORY COUNTY.
age, and is residing with his father). Mr. and Mrs. Davis are consistent members of the Con- gregational Church, at Ames, as are also their eldest son and his wife. The former is also a member of the Alliance, and in politics votes the Union Labor ticket.
Charles H. Dickey, of the firm of Dickey & Hill, general merchants, was originally from Genesee County, N. Y., his birth occurring September 30, 1844, and is the son of Gilman Dickey, a native of New Hampshire. The father was reared in his native State, but was married in New York to Miss Catherine Drake, a native of the Empire State. In 1859 they moved to Michigan, thence in 1861 to Iowa, and settled at Hazle Green, Delaware County, where they reared their family. He purchased a farm and still owns the property, but at pres- ent is in the East visiting. He served as mus- tering officer in New York during the war. Charles Dickey came to Delaware County, Iowa, with his parents when sixteen years of age, and remained under the parental roof un- til grown. In January, 1864, he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company B, and served until discharged on July 28, 1865. He participated in the battles of Resa- ca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, July 22 and 28, and also the siege of Atlanta. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea, was in the battle of Bentonville, and a great number of lesser engagements. He was slight- ly wounded at Jonesboro, and although he often had his clothing cut by shots, he was never seriously injured. Returning to Dela- ware County, Iowa, after the war, he followed farming up to 1873, when he moved to Adams County, and opened a new farm, remaining on the same for eleven years. He returned to Story County in 1883, located at Maxwell and engaged in merchandising, having bought an interest in an established business. He also
carried on the creamery business. The pres- ent firm was formed in July, 1889, and they carry a very large stock of general merchan- dise, and do a large business. Mr. Dickey owns the business house, etc. He is a Repub- lican in politics and has held a number of local positions. He is a member of the town council, etc. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M., the G. A. R., and has served as command- er and in other positions of the post. He served as commander of staff of the State Command- ery. Mr. Dickey was married in McGreg- or, Iowa, on January 14, 1869, to Miss Myrtle M. Sherman, a native of Brunswick, Ohio, and the daughter of Moses and Myrtle Sherman, of Brunswick, Ohio. The fruits of Mr. and Mrs. Dickey's marriage were three children: Bertram S., Claud G. and Alice Mabel. Mr. Dickey is a member of the Pres- byterian, and his wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Robert Dodds. Prominent in agricultural circles is Mr. Dodds, who came to this county in 1864, and for some time after made his home with his brother while he worked at his trade-carpentering. The year of his arrival he purchased eighty acres in this township, and ten acres of timbered land in Milford Township. The first tract was raw prairie land, which he broke up, and so well did the generous soil answer to his efforts, that he was soon able to purchase another eighty acres, which he did in 1865. This land he afterward sold to his brother, and then purchased eighty acres adjoin- ing his original eighty acres, making him a good farm of 160 acres (all under cultivation), and well improved with good buildings, etc. Besides the farming operations he so success- fully conducts, he is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, and he is conceded to be one of the representative farmers and stockmen of the county. He was married, in 1868, to Miss
314
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Lydia Agnes Hughes, daughter of T. R. Hughes, who was among the first settlers along the river, and they are the parents of nine children-six boys and three girls: Thomas B., Ella, Clarence, Ruth B., George, Ira, Ethel, Harry and James R. He and wife are num- bered among the prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. Dodds was born in Pennsylvania on the 11th of June, 1840, being a son of Robert and Mary E. (Boyd) Dodds, both of whom were born in Ireland, and came to America about 1830. The father came first, and two years later his wife followed, and both were accompanied by their parents. They reared a family of eleven children, of whom Robert is third in the order of birth. Two of these children (James and Robert) are residents of this county, William lives in Boone County, one is in Ohio, another in Kansas, and two are living in Virginia. When Robert Dodds was about seven years of age his father moved to Washington County, Ohio, and there, on his father's farm, he grew to maturity. His educational advantages were extremely limited, his schooling being confined to a few terms at the district school. In 1860 he left his home and came to Boone County, Iowa, re- maining there until 1863, when he went to Idaho, and there he was occupied in mining until October, 1864, at which he made con- siderable money. At the above-mentioned date he came to Story County, where he has ever since been an honored and much esteemed resident.
Jonas Duea is an influential planter and mer- chant of Story County, and uniting the desira- ble qualities of intellectual force and business ability, has achieved great success. He is the son of Jonas J. Duea, and was born in the cold Norwegian clime on the 8th of October, 1824. His parents were natives of that coun-
try. living always happily until Death claimed the father as his own when the subject of this sketch was still an infant. Deprived of pater- nal love, he grew to manhood in the land of his ancestors, being at different periods of his life farmer, sailor and soldier. His excellent education well fitted him for the struggle which naturally attended moving to a foreign country. He spent two years in the armies of Norway and Sweden, after which he emigrated to America in 1849, locating in Kendall County, Ill., where for three years he devoted his atten- tion to agriculture. In 1856 he moved to Story County, Iowa, and bought the land upon which he now resides. To-day his is one of the most valuable farms in the whole county. In 1873 Mr. Duea engaged in mercantile business with marked success, and in 1883 opened an exten- sive hardware and agricultural store, where he continues to do business. He was appointed postmaster at Roland in 1870, an office which he still retains. Enlisting September, 1862, in the Iowa Infantry, Company K, he served until discharged in 1865, in the meantime being promoted from private to orderly sergeant. He fought in the battles of Fort Derusha, Pleasant Hill, Nashville and Fort Blakeley. At the close of the war Mr. Duea returned to his home in Story County. In politics he is a strong Republican, being true to his party in every way. In 1852, in Kendall County, Ill., the subject of this sketch married Miss Martha Sheldall, who was born in Norway, but came to America while quite young. They have seven children: Julia (wife of C. Logan), Jo- seph, Rasmus, Oscar, Jennie, Edward and Anna. Mrs. Dnea died February 6, 1890, after a no- ble Christian life, and being the true and faith- ful wife for many long years. The family belongs to the Lutheran Church.
John Dunahoo, farmer and stock-raiser, Iowa Centre, Iowa. Among the many estimable citi- -
---
------
-
315
STORY COUNTY.
zens of Story County, who have become prom- inent in their different callings, stands the name of John Dunahoo, who is one of the pro- gressive and substantial farmers of his portion of the county. Born in Augusta County, W. Va., October 5, 1829, he is the son of William Dunahoo, a native of Virginia, and Sarah (Sheets) Dunahoo, also a native of the Old Dominion, whose ancestors were from Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Dunahoo was of Irish descent, his father being a native of the Emerald Isle, born November 16, 1803, and Grandfather Sheets was of German descent. William Dunahoo followed agricultural pursuits in West Vir- ginia until 1837, and then moved to Indiana, locating in Marion County, where he tilled the soil. In 1854 he moved to Story County, Iowa, near where our subject now resides, and con- tinued his former pursuit until his death, which occurred on January 7, 1874. He held a num- ber of local positions and was a representative citizen. His wife is still living, and in the enjoyment of fairly good health for an old lady seventy-nine years of age. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and became heads of families. Two sisters are now de- ceased. John Dunahoo grew to manhood in Indiana, and was married in Marion County in 1951, to Miss Rachel Ray, a native of Indiana, and sister of Judiah and Jacob Ray, of Nevada. After his marriage Mr. Dunahoo farmed for four years, and then in 1855 moved to Iowa, lo- cating in Story County on September 17 of that year. At that time there was not a house east for eight miles, and his farm was all prai- rie land. He first bought a small place, but added to this from time to time until he is at present the owner of 120 acres, now carried on by his son. He had the misfortune to lose his wife, his faithful and devoted companion for thirty years, on March 28, 1880. They reared
a family of five children: W. S. (born in In- diana and now on the farm), M. R. (in Shelby County ), Martha A. (born in Indiana and the wife of Jake McCord of Story County ), John F. (married and resides in the county), and Mary Ella (wife of Albert Whitinger of Story County). Mr. Dunahoo is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but his wife was a member of the Evangelical Church. He is a Master Mason and an Odd Fellow. In his political views he affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and has served as township trus- tee for a number of years, also as a member of the school board.
Andrew Dunahoo, farmer and stock-raiser, Iowa Centre, Iowa. Of that sturdy and inde- pendent class, the farmers of Iowa, none are possessed of more genuine merit and a stronger character than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He has risen to more than an ordinary degree of success in his call- ing as an agriculturist and stockman, and wherever known he is conceded to be an ener- getic and progressive tiller of the soil, imbued with all those qualities of go-ahead-ativeness which have characterized his ancestors. His birth occurred in Marion County, Ind., August 30, 1838, and he is the son of William Duna- hoo, a native of Virginia, and Mrs. Sarah (Sheets) Dunahoo, also of Virginia birth. The elder Dunahoo moved from Virginia to Indiana at a very early day, when Indianapolis was but a village, and began clearing a farm. In 1850 he sold this and moved to Iowa, where he was among the first settlers of Story County. The whole country was a wilderness, and everything, groceries, provisions, etc., had to be hauled from Burlington. Mr. Dunahoo helped raise the first building in Nevada, im- proved a good farm, and here his death oc- curred on January 9, 1876. His widow still survives him and is in her eighty-first year.
316
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Andrew Dunahoo came with his parents to this county in 1850, or when he was twelve years of age and passed his youth and man- hood here. He remained with his father un- til grown, and then started out for himself as an agriculturist. He assisted in clearing the home place, and afterward bought land and made a farm of his own in Indian Creek and Collins Townships. He moved to his present farm about 1856, and here he has remained ever since, making many and vast improve- ments. He has 260 acres of land in the above-mentioned townships, and all joining. This is good land, and on it are substan- tial buildings, a story-and-a-half house, ordi- nary stables, a nice grove of maples and a small young orchard, all the result of his own labor. He was married here in March, 1859, when twenty-one years of age, to Miss Rachel Ann Smith, a native of Indiana, born in Marion County, where she was reared and educated, and the daughter of John W. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Dunahoo have nine children liv- ing: William (married and on the farm), Sarah J. ( wife of John Broady, of this county ), Susanna (wife of Robert Sarsfield, of this county ), Abby (wife of John Shney, of the county ), Perry (a young man), Alice (a young woman ), Elmer, Floyd, and Fred (a lad of ten years). Mrs. Dunahoo is a Methodist in belief.
Nathan Dunkelbarger. There is probably no man within the limits of Story County, Iowa, who is more extensively engaged in stock dealing than Mr. Dunkelbarger, and through- out a residence of twenty-five years here he has become well known as a man of progressive spirit, energy and clear perception. He was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, July 18, 1824, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Slopisch ) Dunkelbarger, who were also natives of that State, dying there at the age of ninety-three
and sixty-three years, respectively. Nathan Dunkelbarger was the ninth of their eleven children, of whom five are now living, and in his youth he learned the cabinet-maker's trade of his father. At the age of fifteen years he left the parental roof and removed to Warren County, Penn., and after working at the car- penter's trade and the shingle-making business for thirteen years, he removed by team to Henry County, Ill., where he tilled the soil and made his home for twelve years. In 1865 he came to Story County, Iowa, where he has since given his attention to the stock business, and is one of the most successful men in this locality. He is the owner of fourteen acres of land inside the corporation, besides 160 acres of excellent farming land in Nevada Township. He was married in 1847 to Miss Mary Valen- tine, who was born in Warren County, Penn., October 24, 1832, and by her became the father of the following children: Isabell, Madora L. and Orra L. Mrs. Dunkelbarger is a daughter of Edmund and Hannah ( De Long) Valentine, who were born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and New York in 1816, and died in Polk County, Iowa, in 1872, and Nevada, Iowa, in 1887, re- spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkelbarger united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Henry County, Ill., in 1858, the minister at that time being Rev. Humphrey, an excellent man, fully consecrated to his work. They are now highly esteemed residents of Story County, and Mr. Dunkelbarger's well known habits of industry and perseverance, as well as enterprise and progress, have contributed to place around him a host of friends and acquaintances. On start- ing out in life for himself, at the age of fifteen years, he contracted with his father for his time until he was twenty-one years of age, by agreeing to pay him $100, but at the end of that time began doing for himself, and his la- bors have met with the above mentioned results.
4
317
STORY COUNTY.
Orra L. Dunkelbarger is a well-known stock- feeder and shipper of this section of the coun- try, and also gives considerable attention to tilling the soil, and has for some time been buying and improving real estate, being now the owner of 460 acres of excellent land. One of his farms, which comprises 320 acres, is sit- nated in Grant Township, and is one of the finest and best improved farms in this section of the country. Mr. Dunkelbarger was born in Harrisburg, Penn., May 23, 1851, a son of Nathan and Mary (Valentine) Dunkelbarger, being the youngest of their three children. At about the age of eight months he was taken by his parents to Henry County, Ill., and there attended school until 1875, when he came to Story County, Iowa, and here also attended school for some time. He began dealing in stock at the age of eighteen years, being inter- ested in this business with his father, and con- tinned thus associated until 1886, since which time he has been alone. He has obtained a fair share of this world's goods through his own good management, and is considered by all to be a shrewd financier and a man of sound judgment, as well as an excellent judge of stock. On the 8th of April, 1886, he was in- jured in a railway accident at Clinton, Iowa, while shipping stock from that place, which incapacitated him for business for about one year. He received from the North-Western Railroad Company the sum of $2,600 as com- pensation. Since the Ist of January, 1890, he has sold twenty-one full-blooded Short-horn bulls, which breed is one of his favorites, and of which he raises quite a large number each year. He has always supported the Repub- lican party, U. S. Grant receiving his first presidential vote, and he has taken an active part in politics of a national nature. His mar- riage, which occurred on the 19th of Septem- ber, 1881, was to Miss Nettie Briggs, a daugh-
ter of Otis Briggs. She was born in 1860, in Nevada, Iowa.
George W. Dyer is a member of the well- known law firm of Dyer & Fitchpatrick, of Nevada, Iowa, and is also the present attorney of Story County. He was born in Jefferson, Schoharie County, N. Y., August 20, 1839, being a son of Calvin and Betsey (Sherwood) Dyer, who were born in Connecticut November 5, 1799, and January 15, 1803, and died in York State April 26, 1885, and December 8, 1886, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Winthrop Dyer, was born in the "Nutmeg State," and died in New York at a ripe old age. The maternal grandfather, Seymour Sherwood, was also born in Connecticut and died in Jef- ferson, Schoharie County, N. Y., at seventy odd years of age. Both families were early resi- dents of York State, and were members of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of eight children-six sons and two daughters-the following being their names in order of birth: Chester (the eldest, was born in 1823), Adaline (born in 1827), Justin (born in 1829), Polly E. (born in 1831), Sey- mour (born in 1833), Soveryn (born in 1835), Winthrop (born in 1837), and George W. The latter remained with his father, learn- ing the occupation of farming, until he was seventeen years of age, being also an attendant of the public schools during this time, after which he entered the New York Conference Seminary at Charlotteville, Scho- harie County, but his education was completed in the Hudson River Institute in Columbia County, N. Y. In October, 1861, he entered the law office of Abraham Becker, of Otsego County, N. Y., and on the 24th of May, 1863, was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State of New York. The following year he formed a co-partnership for the practice of his profession with the Hon. Stephen L. Mayham,
G
318
HISTORY OF IOWA.
then of North Blenheim, Schoharie County, but they severed their connection at the end of two years, and Mr. Dyer continued his practice alone at Richmondville, in the same county, until the month of November, 1875, when he came to Story County, Iowa, where he has con- tinued to make his home. He at once entered upon a career of distinction, business came to him unsolicited, and his strong good sense, his knowledge of human nature and his genuine legal ability soon became known, and he gained the general confidence of the people. Since November, 1877, he has been a member of the law firm of Dyer & Fitchpatrick, and these gentlemen constitute one of the leading legal firms in this section of the country. December 11, 1875, he was admitted to the Story County bar, and on the 12th of December, 1878, was admitted to practice before the Iowa Supreme Court. He has always been a Republican in his views, and walked ten miles to cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been city attorney of Nevada several years, and in November, 1886, he was elected county attorney, a position he has filled with much credit ever since. As a lawyer his ability is unquestioned, and as a citizen every enterprise of a public nature finds in him a warm advo- cate and substantial supporter. On the 8th of July, 1865, he was married to Miss Emma Parslow, by whom he has two children: Grace A. and Jessie. Mr. Dyer's second marriage took place on the 15th of September, 1886, his wife having formerly been Miss Martha A. Kellogg, a native of Nevada, Iowa, born Octo- ber 28, 1856. They have two children: Ruth and Winthrop K. Mr. Dyer belongs to Samp- son Lodge No. 77, K. of P.
Jacob Eagleburger, one of the county's young and prosperous farmers and stock-rais- ers, was born on the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 21, in Milford Township, Story County,
Iowa, in the year 1859, and is the son of John and Frances Eagleburger. The father was born in Switzerland, in 1816, and came to America with his parents when but an infant, and grew to manhood probably in Pennsylvania. He then resided for some time in Ohio (where he was married) and Indiana, and chose for his life companion Miss Frances E. Spencer, a daughter of Isaac H. Spencer, who was born in 1819. He located in Story County about 1856, and there reared their family of eight children, all of whom grew to mature years and were liber- ally educated in the common-schools of the county. The father died in February, 1889, but the mother still lives in the county. Jacob Eagleburger is now residing on the old home- stead, actively engaged in the occupation which his ancestors for a number of genera- tions have followed-farming. While he is an agriculturist of prominence, he does not lose sight of the stock-raising industry, and in this has gained quite a local reputation. Mr. Eagleburger is paying especial attention to the raising of horses and cattle, and is one of the prominent farmers of the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.