HARRY B. DORSEY

DORSEY, BRYSON, DUNCAN, SACKETT, MCRAY, PETERS, VANGORDON

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/15/2004 at 20:28:06

"Harry B. Dorsey is the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, Lee township, and his energies are directed continuously to the further development and improvement of his property, which now constitutes one of the good farms of the locality. He was born in Pennsylvania, October 21, 1854, a son of Edward and Mary A. (Bryson) Dorsey, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. In 1862 they became residents of Illinois, settling in Mercer county, where they lived for some time. In 1869 they came to Iowa, establishing their home in Johnson county, where they remained for eight years. On the expiration of that period they came to Adair county and took up their abode upon a farm within its borders, the father devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits until he removed to Greenfield, where he lived retired, both he and his wife passing away in that city.

In their family were eleven children, seven of whom are yet living. This number includes Harry B. Dorsey, who remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age. During that period he acquired his education in the public schools and received ample training in farm work. For some years following his marriage he cultivated a rented farm but during that period carefully saved his earnings until he was able to purchase a tract of land in Grove township, where he lived for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and removed to Greenfield, remaining for seven years in the city in order that his children might enjoy the benefits of education in the schools there. At the end of that time he was appointed superintendent of a poor farm and acted in that capacity for thirteen years, making an excellent record of management of the place. At the end of that time he purchased his present home property, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 3, Lee township. This is splendidly iproved and constitutes one of the excellent farms of the locality. Mr. Dorsey is engaged not only in the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate but is also engaged quite extensively in raising stock.

In 1882 Mr. Dorsey was united in marriage to Miss Linie Duncan, a native of McLean county, Illinois, and a daughter of John and Sarah E. (Sackett) Duncan. The father served throughout the entire period of the Civil war as a member of Company I, Third Illinois Cavalry, and was killed just at the close of hostilities. The mother, a native of Ohio, is still living at the age of seventy-two years. They had two children, namely: Mrs. Dorsey; and Augusta, the wife of Roy McRay, of Adair county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey have been born four children, as follows: Bertha A., a high-school graduate and former school teacher who is now the wife of Richard Peters, of York county, Nebraska; Eva Pearl, also a high-school graduate and former school teacher who is now the wife of Fred Vangorden, of Nebraska; Sherman H., a college graduate and mechanical engineer by profession who now makes his home at Springfield, Ohio; and Arthur L., who is a high-school graduate and is still at home.

Mr. Dorsey exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has served as a member of the school board and he is interested in fraternal matters as a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 173, while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah lodge. His elder son is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the younger has membership with the Odd Fellows. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and have guided their lives according to its teachings. Those who know them appreciate highly their many sterling traits of character and recognize that the principles which govern their conduct are those which measure up to the highest standards."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.