USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 62
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 62
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T. A. Dakyns, livery; was born in England in 1849. At the age of 19 years he entered the general postoffice of England at London. In 1871 he came to the U. S. and soon settled on a farm of 240 acres in Burr Oak tp., Winneshiek Co. Here he re- sided about four years; then came to Decorah and built the De- corah Skating Rink. In July, 1881, he engaged in his present business in partnership with Frank Hughs, but soon became sole proprietor.
J. W. Dawley, proprietor of Bluffton House, Bluffton; was born in Cataraugus Co., N. Y., in 1831; resided there until 1857, farming; then came to Io., settling on Franklin Prairie, Canoe tp., this county, and farmed there three years; then came to Bluffton tp. and farmed four years, and afterwards moved to Calhoun Co., Mich., and engaged in lumbering; remained there one year, and
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returned to Bluffton, located in the village and engaged in farm- ing and teaming; and in April, 1881, opened the hotel, which is the only one in town and does a good business. He was married twice; first in 1851, in N. Y., to Miss Jane Dawley, who died in July, 1876, leaving seven children. He was afterwards married in March, 1879, at Burr Oak, to Mrs. Powers, nee Knowlton, by whom he has three children, Minnie, Mary and Albertus. The children of the first wife living are, Franklin, Elsie, Corydon and Margaret.
John Daskam, farmer, Fremont tp .; owns 116 acres of land; was born in Chemung Co., N. Y., in 1830. In the spring of 1846 his parents moved to McHenry Co., Ill .; resided there until 1853, then came to Io., settling in Hesper tp. In the fall of the fol- lowing year John came to this tp. and pre-empted 160 acres (which he since sold) joining the farm he lives on, which was pre- empted by his father a year later. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 38th Io. Inf., at Decorah, under Capt. Kirkup, and served with his regiment at Vicksburg, Yazoo City, and contracted a severe sick- ness at Vicksburg. The regiment went to Fort Hudson, and dur- ing twenty days they lost the colonel, one captain, two lieutenants and twenty privates from disease. At Carrollton, near New Or- leans, he was in hospital five months; then joined the regiment at Brownsville, Texas, and was at the siege of Fort Morgan. The regiment was then consolidated with the 34th Io., and marched to Blakeley and participated in the siege there for six days, and stormed the works; thence to Mobile and Selma, Ala .; thence to Houston, Tex. They were mustered out and discharged at Daven- port, Sept., 1865. He had been promoted sergeant soon after joining the 38th Regt. After the war he returned to this place, where he has ever since resided. The home farm is 111 acres, and is well improved: has good residence and farm buildings, good and productive orchard, and is well stocked. He also owns five acres of good timber. He was married in 1859, in this township, to Miss Susan Clarke; they have six children, E. G., Nettie, Wil- lie, Mabel, Addie and Edith. Mr. Daskam is a member of the P. of H., Kendallville Lodge.
Burg Irwin Dakyns, of Dakyns & Simpson, stock raisers and farmers, Burr Oak tp .; is a native of Worcestershire, Eng .; came to America in 1869, and located in this place; bought the land in the following fall, and fitted the same for stock purposes, espec- ially for sheep, of which they have a fine drove, principally of the Lincoln breed, many being thoroughbred; also a fine lot of good graded cattle and pure short horns, thoroughbred. The land is all under fence and well improved. In Feb., 1882, Mr. D. formed a partnership with Mr. P. Simpson, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, constituting the present firm.
Eugene Daman, farmer, Sec. 26, has 260 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in McHenry county, Ill., in 1851. At
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the age of five years he moved with his parents to Winneshiek Co., Io., and has resided there since. He is the third son of George and Charlotte Daman; was married in 1878 to Elizabeth J. Wan- less, a native of Virginia, and has one son.
Hon. Warren Danforth, farmer, Orleans township; owns 480 acres of land valued at $35 per acre; was born in Saratoga County, New York, in 1829, and is a son of A. W. and Mary Danforth. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Jefferson County, New York, in which county Mr. Danforth grew to manhood, receiving a common school education. In 1861 he came west and located on his present farm. Although not an office-seeker, Mr. D. has been elected to fill quite im- portant positions. In 1865 he was a member of the county board of supervisors, and has also been elected member of the State Legislature, which position he still holds.
D. Dorn, of the firm of Ringeon & Dorn, grain dealers, was born in Courtland County, New York, in 1826; is a son of David and Joanna Dorn. When ten years of age his parents removed to Ashtabula - County, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. In 1847 he went to Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin, where he followed farming for a few years. In 1854 he removed to Chickasaw County, Iowa; thence to Conover, and in 1868 came to Ridgeway, and engaged in his present business. He was married to Susan Robinson, a native of Ohio; they have six children, three sons and three daughters.
J. S. Daskam, postmaster, and dealer in general merchandise, Kendallville; was born in Chemung County, N. Y., in 1841. In 1846 his parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois and engaged at farming; came to this state in 1854 and located in Burr Oak township, and entered a quarter section of government land; he remained with his parents on the home farm until the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted at Decorah in Co. D, 3d Io. Inf., under Captain Willetts, and served his term of three years and then re-enlisted as a veteran, and participated in several of the important battles during the war. He received a severe shot wound in the leg at Shiloh, and afterwards at Atlanta, July 21, 1864, he received a gun-shot wound in the left shoulder, which disabled him. He started to return home, and was obliged to lay up at the hospital at Madison, Wisconsin, and remained there un- til he received his discharge, May 23, 1865. He returned to Iowa and farmed two years in this township, and then bought land in Orleans township, and farmed there six years; he then sold it and purchased an interest in the business at this place with Mr. Fifield, whose interest he afterwards bought, and has since conducted the same himself. He owns the building and lot, carries a well select- ed stock of general merchandise, and has established a good busi- ness. He received his appointment as postmaster in 1876 to suc- ceed F. G. Hale, and still fills that position. He was married in
36
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1865 in this township, to Miss Henrietta N. Eddy, and they have five children, Emma, Allyn, John, Alson and Frances. Hiram D. Daskam (brother) enlisted in April, 1861, in Co. D, 3d Io. Inf., under Capt. Willetts; was taken prisoner near Atlanta, Ga., after a three days' fight, and was imprisoned at Andersonville, and ex- perienced all the horrors of that notorious place. He escaped with others from the train when being transferred from there to Flor- ence, by jumping from the cars, but was captured by a picket guard they run on to in attempting to cross the North River. He was then taken to Wilmington, North Carolina, and from there was started again for Florence, and again succeeded in getting away, but was again recaptured and started for Charlotte, S. C. He again escaped, was again recaptured, and on the return to Char- lotte once more escaped, this time succeeding in reaching the Un- ion lines. He received his discharge near Washington at the close of the war. He died near Muir, Ionia County, Michigan, in the winter of 1870, from disease contracted through his privations in the army.
Erick P. Egge, farmer, owns 160 acres of tillable land in Frank- ville tp., and 40 acres of timber in Glenwood tp. He was born in 1826, near Christiana, Norway; was raised on a farm, and also learned the trade of carpenter; came to America in 1850; stopped one year in Wis., and then came to Frankville tp., this county, took a claim, and still resides on the same. He worked at his trade for some time to enable him to gain enough to properly commence farming, as he was without capital. He is now one of the wealthiest citizens, has a fine residence, and everything has the appearance of elegance and comfort. He married in 1854, in this tp., Helen P. Egge, and has eight children.
Chrystopher Anderson Estrem, postmaster, Woodside P. O., in Frankville tp., and farmer; owns 160 acres; was born in Vaug, Norway, in 1819; followed the business of tailor there until 1848, when he came to the U. S .; stopped the first winter at Chicago, working at his trade; next moved to Wis .; remained there until 1850; then came to Winneshiek Co., Io., and took up the claim he now resides on. In 1876 was appointed postmaster, which office he still retains. He has filled the office of justice of the peace and many other minor offices in the tp. He was married in Wis- consin in 1850 to Miss Caroline Everson, and they have five chil- dren, four sons and one daughter.
Christopher Evans, farmer, owns 220 acres, all tillable land ex- cept 80 of timber; was born in the District of Walders, Norway, in 1840; came to this country with his parents in 1850; lived one . year in Wis .; thence came to Io. and located where he now re- sides. His father, Knud Evans, bought a school land grant, which is a portion of the farm, 80 acres also bought of M. B. Burdick, in 1878. The land is fine rolling prairie and mostly improved, is
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well stocked, and has a good substantial residence, barns, etc. Mr. E. has filled many offices of trust in the tp. He was married in 1864, in this tp., to Miss Anna Brown, and they have two sons.
0. W. Emery, P. O. Decorah, farmer, Sec. 17, Canoe tp .; son of Geo. R. and Sarah Willey Emery, was born Sept. 27, 1829, in Loraine Co., O., When he was about four years old his parents moved to what is known as the Western Reserve, and in 1840 they came to Winnebago Co., Ill. In 1849 he came to this county, locating near Decorah, and in 1850 came on to his present farm, which now contains 200 acres, well improved. He married Miss Martha McIntyre, of N, Y., in July, 1853; have thirteen children: Omri L. D., Aaron W. R., John M., Ezra D., Andrew W., Adda, Ida, Lilly, Esta, Ernest, George, Frank and Martha, and have lost two by death, Mary and Josiah B.
John Elwick, Sec. 9, P. O. Decorah; gardener and fruit raiser; was born in England in 1818, learning the business of gardening there. In 1852 he emigrated to the U. S., locating at Rockford, Ill., remaining but a short time, when he went to Lawrence Co., Ohio, for a time, when he returned to Rockford, Ill., remaining till in 1865, when he came to this county, and to his present loca- tion in 1869. He makes a specialty of gardening and the raising of small fruits. He also has a fine orchard and nursery. He mar- ried Mary Johns, also a native of England; they have eight chil- dren, Isabella, Mary, Thomas, William, Robert M., Anna M., Jane, and an infant, not named.
T. Enger, farmer, Sec. 35. P. O. Decorah; son of A. and T. Enger; was born Nov. 30th, 1836, in Norway; emigrated to the U. S. in 1854; purchased his land the same year, after which he worked by the month upon a farm for several years, and part of the time was engaged improving his own land. He married Miss Isabel Anderson March 15, 1873, since which time he has lived on his farm, which contains 160 acres, valued at $35 per acre. He is raising two children (relatives), their names are Christian Peter- son and Mene T. Gilbertson. Mr. Enger is a member of the Lu- theran church.
Rev. Fr. Ehrenberger, pastor of St. Wenceslaus church, of Spillville, was born in Policka, Austria, in 1828. He received his education at the college of Litormjeil, and was prepared for the priesthood at Hradec; had charge of various churches for seventeen years, and in Nov. 1869, came to the U. S. and located at Rock Creek, Jefferson Co., Mo., where he remained until 1875; then came to Fort Atkinson, this county. He had charge of the church there for sixteen months, after which he went to Dubuque and officiated at St. Mary's church for two years; then returned to Fort Atkinson, and there remained until Aug., 1880, when he was appointed to his present pastorship.
H. Engbretson was born in Norway in 1845; learned the black smith trade, and in 1864 emigrated to the U. S. He came direct
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to Decorah, and in about six weeks enlisted in Co. G, 9th Io., and served until the close of the war. Mr. Engbretson then returned to Decorah and followed his trade until 1875, when he was obliged to abandon the same on account of physical disability, caused by exposure while in the U. S. service. He has since been dealing iu farm machinery. In 1866 Mr. E. returned to Norway, and was married to Miss Jorgim S. Hauser, who died in Decorah in July, 1867. In 1872 he married Margaret Evenson. Mr. Eng- bretson is an active worker in the ranks of the republican party, and is at present a member of the city council.
James H. Easton, president of the First National Bank of Deco- rah, stands conspicuous among the successful business men of the northwest. He is a son of the late William L. Easton, president of the Bank of Louville, N. Y., and therefore early in life was educated in banking and mercantile pursuits. In 1862 James II. Easton, then a young man, with a small amount of money, but a large stock of good judgment, enterprise and business activity for capital, came to Decorah and took the management of the old Decorah Bank as sole proprietor-an institution well known by all early settlers in northern Iowa, which passed successfully throughi all the panics of stump-tail currency and war times, always ready to meet every call and pay one hundred cents on the dollar on demand. When the National Currency Act was passed, he converted the old Decorah Bank into the First National, be- coming its first and only president-an institution that has ever kept pace with the growth of the city and county, constantly in- creasing in capital and in the confidence of the community, under his management, until now it is everywhere regarded one of the solid financial institutions of the west.
The Savings Bank of Decorah is a natural outgrowth from the remarkable success of the First National, and to the prudence and conservative financial wisdom of its originator and president, Mr. Easton, is also due the high credit it enjoys.
In 1869, when the railroad was pushing westward from Deco- rah, his quick judgment saw opportunities for his successes to re- peat themselves, and, in company with A. E. Bigelow, Esq., of New Hampton, he established the Chickasaw County Bank, under the firm name of Easton & Bigelow. This enterprise, from small beginnings, has proved no less a success than the First National of Decorah, now using a capital of nearly one hundred thousand dollars.
The extension of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway to Forest City furnished another opening for his enterprise at that point, and the Winnebago County Bank sprung into existence, with James H. Easton president, and J. F. Thompson, a rising young attorney, as cashier. Easton & Thompson are doing a large and prosperous business. History repeats itself.
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While being so largely engaged in banking. it has not prevented his quick eye detecting the "opportunities" found only in the west for fortunes in real estate. He has always coupled the two, which naturally, in a new and growing country, go hand in hand -banking and real estate-and there is hardly a county in north- ern Iowa, along the railroad lines, but his name is a familiar one on the books of titles to real estate, his acreage being numbered by thousands.
Monuments of his enterprise and public spirit are seen in the First National Bank building at Decoralı, the Chickasaw County Bank, and the Winnebago County Bank-all models of beauty, elegance and safety, and schools of design in architecture.
Mr. Easton was married in 1861 to Miss Mary N. Loy.
T. E. Egge, county auditor, is a son of Erick G. and Berit J. Northrop Egge, both natives of Norway, who emigrated to the U. S. in 1850, and first settled in Dane Co., Wis. Here, in July, 1851, the subject of this sketch was born, and when he was but two years of age the family came to Io. and settled in Madison tp., Winneshiek Co. The son helped till the soil, and received a good common school education. Subsequently he taught until March 26, 1877, at which date he entered the county auditor's office and served as deputy until January 1, 1882, during which time, in the fall of 1881, he was elected to the office, which he now holds. At the election there were 2,497 votes cast, of which Mr. Egge received 1,699. Mr. Egge was also town clerk during 1880 and 1881. He was married May 19, 1880, to Lillie B. Lim- beck.
William L. Easton, merchant tailor and dealer in ready made clothing, etc. The subject of this sketch is a son of William L. Easton, and was born at Louville, Lewis County, N. Y. He was bred to mercantile life in the store and banking house of his father. In the spring of 1865 he came to Decorah. He did not confine himself to any regular employment for a few years, but in 1868 formed a partnership with R. F. Gibson, and continued the same two years. Mr. Easton then established his present bus- iness. He was united in marriage in 1874 to Louisa Manville, of Watertown, N. Y.
A. J. Eddy, sec. 8, Orleans township; was born in Grandisle County, Vt., in 1832. In 1852 he emigrated to California, where he remained four years; after which he returned to Vermont, and in 1856 came to Fremont township, this county, and located on a farm, remaining until 1868, when he removed to his present farm of 240 acres, which is valued at about $35 per acre. Mr. E. is a son of Clement and Eliza Eddy, the former a native of Connecti- cut, and Mr. Eddy was married to Rebecca Youngs, who is also a native of Grandisle County. Vermont; their children are Austin, Alice, Jennie, Florence, William and Melvin. They are members of the Congregational Church.
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.D. B. Ellsworth, P. O. Decorah; retired merchant; soll of Benjamin and Roxana (nee Packard) Ellsworth; was born Janu- ary 10, 1822, in Lewis County, N. Y. His parents moved to Cattaraugus County in 1830, which was then considered "out west," his early occupation being on the farm, where he received but a common school education. On the 29th of March, 1848, he was married to Miss Amanda Denison, and the same year started for the west. He came to Galena, Illinois, and stopped with an uncle that season, and prospected in quest of a suitable place to commence business; and in 1849 lie built a store building in Ar- gyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, in which he put a good stock of general merchandise, it being the first in the place. He con- tinued business there till the spring of 1855, when he sold out and came to Decorah, Iowa, the town then being in its in- fancy. The same year he opened up a general store in com- pany with Mr. A. A. Akin, and at the expiration of one year he bought out Mr. Akin, and continued the business alone until 1858. In 1859 he again engaged in general merchandise in con- pany with Mr. Landers, this partnership continuing until 1874, when he sold out his interest for the purpose of resting from the long confinement of the store. After being out about a year he again engaged in business with C. N. Goddard, continuing until 1879, when, on account of ill-health he retired from the business. Mr. Ellsworth's wife died in 1876, and he was again married to Mrs. Harriet Bennett Norton, widow of C. L. Norton, of Chau- tauqua County, New York. Mrs. Ellsworth has four children by her first marriage-Lauraette, Martin, Orinda and George O. Mr. Ellsworth has one daughter by his first marriage, Florence, now the wife of Stephen A. Lothrop, of Boston, Mass. Mr. E. is at present engaged in running a stone quarry, just across the river, north of Decorah. He has some of the finest building stone in the country, which he is shipping to points on the C., M. & St. P. R. R., and some to eastern cities. Mr. Ellsworth has the honor of being an uncle of the justly famous Col. E. E. Ellsworth, whose martyrdom to the cause of his country at Ar- lington Heights in the early part of the rebellion, will never be forgotten by his patriotic countrymen.
W. R. Emslie, farmer, section 25, P. O. Cresco .; owns 200 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1827; is the second son of Alexander and Elizabeth Emslie. At the age of 28 he left Scotland and came to Waukesha, Wis; stayed there fourteen years; then removed to Winneshiek Co. in 1865. He was married at the age of 28 to Miss Ann Walker, a native of Scotland. and has ten children, Anna, Alexander, Elizabetlı, Isabel, William, Ruth, Sarah, Susan, Lillie and John.
Richard D. Evans, farmer, Washington tp .; owns 160 acres of land and resides on section 20; was born in Menonethshire, Wales, in 1834; came to America in May, 1856; lived a few years in
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Utica, N. Y., and learned the trade of mason; then came to Io., located at Fort Atkinson, followed his trade ten years; then bought the farm he now owns; has thoroughly improved it, has it well stocked, all under fence, good buildings, etc. He was mar- ried in 1857, in N. Y., to Miss Jane Williams, and they have seven children, Evan, Edward, Laura, John, Mary, Matilda and Ida.
E. E. Earl, farmer, section 9, P. O. Cresco, owns 125 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre; was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1838; is the fourth son of Horace and Fanny Earl. At the age of 28 he removed with his family to Winneshiek Co., and has been a resident of that Co. ever since. He was married in 1866 to Miss Minnie Root. a native of N. Y. Mr. Earl has no children, except an adopted daughter, Delia Fanny. Mr. Earl has been tp. clerk five years, collector three terms, and assessor one term.
John Finn was born in Ireland in 1836, his parents being Pat- rick and Bridget Finn. In 1848 the family sailed for the U. S. The father died on board ship, and the mother with her four children (two, John and Timothy, are still living), landed at New Orleans in February, 1849. As soon as navigation opened on the Mississippi she came up the river and settled at Galena, Ill. Here the subject of this sketch commenced work at the tinner's trade; subsequently spent one year at St. Paul, Minn., and in the fall of 1855 came to Decorah; worked at his trade for other parties until 1860, since which time he has been in the hardware business, and is at present a member of the firm of Finn & Noble. Mr. Finn has been twice married-in 1856 to Miss Elizabeth Quinn, who died in 1877, after a lingering illness of seven years. She left six chil- dren. His second wife was Emily L. Lawton. a native of Conn. Mr. Finn is an active worker for the Democratic party, and takes a great interest in the education of his children. His three eldest daughters are graduates of St. Mary's Institute, at Prairie du Chien.
William M. Fannon, county recorder, one of Winneshiek's early pioneers, was born in the State of Virginia in 1825, his pa- rents being A. H. and Mary E. Fannon, natives of Va., who set- tled at Freeport, Winneshiek Co., in 1849. The subject of this sketch located at Freeport in the spring of 1852, and was engaged in merchandizing until Oct .. 1862, when he enlisted in Co. D, 6th Io. Cav .. and served until after the close of the war, when he was mustered out as 2d Lieut. Mr. Fannon was postmaster at Free- port for about fifteen years, and is now serving his third term as county recorder.
I. S. Finney, P. O. Decorah, farmer, Sec. 18. Canoe tp .; was born Aug. 5th, 1820, in Essex Co., N. Y. His parents, Anson and Esther Sheldon Finney, were also natives of N. Y. He was mar- ried to Miss Almira J. Nichols, daughter of Ezra and Polly Nich- ols, April 14, 1849. In the fall of 1865 they immigrated to this county, locating on his present farm. He was commissioned post- master of Canoe P. (). June 22, 1868, which position he held till
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.
the office was discontinued in 1872. He has also served as justice of the peace several years. Their children are, Llewellyn C. and Minnehaha L., and they have lost one daughter, Alice E.
O. A. Foss, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, is a na- tive of Norway, and was born in 1842. He learned the shoe- maker's trade, and in 1869 came to the U. S., and soon located at Decorah. Here he followed his trade in the employ of Gibbert Rustad, whom he subsequently bought out. His only sister, Ingre O. Foss, came to the U. S. in 1870, and now resides at Chicago. In 1871 he went to Chicago, where he remained until 1874, engaged in the shoe business.
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