DULL, John 1821-1907

DULL, STEEL

Posted By: Merikay Mestad (email)
Date: 8/22/2009 at 16:52:52

Granted the Right To Spend Last days on Homestead a Few Weeks Ago.
His Children Objected
Wanted to Keep their Parents in Waterloo But Failed—Father Died Tuesday Afternoon.
John Dull, who for the past fifty two years has been a resident of Blackhawk county and most of the time resided in Orange township, died at 4:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at the old farm home the place where he hoped to breathe his last. Considerable attention was attracted by Mr. and Mrs. Dull at the time they were living with their daughter and son-in-law in Waterloo and desired to return to the old homestead. This request was denied by their children, but the elderly couple were determined to spend their last days on the Orange township farm. By a legal action they were taken from Waterloo and confirmed in the right to live where they chose.
Mr. and Mrs. John Steel, who are the relatives with whom Mr. and Mrs. Dull lived while in Waterloo, conduct the American house on Commercial street and were so angered by the move that an extensive bill for board was asked of the old people. A petition in court resulted.
The joy of spending their last days on the old home farm was destined to be short, for they had only a few weeks ago been taken back and Mr. Dull’s fatal sickness came on soon afterward. A son, George Dull, is working the old homestead and the elderly people have been living with him during the time of their last residence in Orange.
John Dull was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, on February 1, 1821, and when thirty-four years of age came to Iowa, where he has resided ever since. He is survived by a wife and six children, four sons, and two daughters. They are John B., who is thought to be in Washington state, G. W., Orange township; V. E., Waukon; John [Joseph], Washington state, Mrs. Mary Nedrow, Nebraska; Mrs. Sarah J. Steel, Waterloo.
The funeral will probably be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock in the Orange township German Baptist church of which he was a member. Burial will be in Orange cemetery.
--“Days of Joy For Dull,” Semi Weekly Reporter, Waterloo, Iowa (Friday, 10 May 1907:5)