John F. Dalton (1870-1928)

DALTON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/23/2022 at 21:33:50

John Franklin Dalton
(October 22, 1870 – September 30 1928)

The value of the local newspapers in the up-building of the best interests of any community is universally conceded. The rule is that good papers are found in good towns, inferior journals in towns of stunted growth and uncertain future. It is not so much a matter of size as of excellence and of adaptability to the needs of the locality. These conditions given, in any appreciative and progressive community, the size of the paper will take care of itself in a way naturally satisfactory to publishers and patrons. Mr. Dalton is a prominent factor in the journalistic interests of western Iowa and the fact that the Manson Democrat, a Democratic paper, has the largest circulation of any journal in the Republican County of Calhoun is an indication of the superiority of the sheet and the ability of the editor as a representative of the "art preservative of arts." John Franklin Dalton is widely known as a most progressive and enterprising citizen and successful business man. He was born in Randall Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, October 22, 1870, and is the only living son of John Loftus and Margaret (Boyle) Dalton, who in childhood became residents of Kenosha County and there remained until May, 1875, when they removed to Calhoun County, Iowa, settling on a farm near Pomeroy, where they still reside. The father was born near Ballyhaunus, in County Alayo, Ireland, May 10, 1841, and when twelve years of age came with his parents to America, the family settling in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, on a farm on the south shore of Silver Lake, where his mother is
now living, at the age of eighty-two years. At the time of the Civil war John Loftus Dalton joined the Union forces and served
on the gunboat Ouichita in the river service. He married Margaret Boyle, who was born in Racine, Wisconsin, April 19, 1847. Her parents were natives of County Roscommon, Ireland, and were married soon after their arrival in this country, Mrs. Dalton being their eldest child. Unto the parents of our subject were born four children: Joseph, who died in infancv: Alice Winnifred, the wife of Thomas O'Boyle, of Clare, Iowa; and Florence Teresa, the wife of Edward
J. Masterson, of Manson, Iowa. John F. Dalton, the youngest of the family, remained upon the home farm with his father until nearly twenty-two years of age. For four years he engaged in teaching school through the winter months before leaving the family to enter the newspaper business at Manson, where he became a half owner in the Democrat, in July, 1892. He was editor and manager of the paper until December 1, 1892, when he purchased the interest of his partner, T. B. Lemoin, and assumed entire control of the business. Since that time Mr. Dalton has conducted his paper and printing establishment alone and that it has been a success is evidenced by the fact that the paper has made money and friends in the face of all obstacles. It has the largest circulation of any journal published in Calhoun county. The office is one of the best equipped country offices in Iowa and the fame of the excellent work here done has spread throughout the northwestern part of the state and even into Minnesota and the Dakotas. In addition to his publishing and printing business Mr. Dalton makes a specialty of art calendars and other printed advertising novelties and his business in this direction has become quite extensive. His newspaper is patronized by all classes and creeds on account of its fairness and fearlessness. It is one of the solid business institutions of Manson and one in which the citizens of Manson take considerable pride.
Mr. Dalton was married October 12, 1892, to Miss Lillian Ellen Ford, a daughter of Walter and Mary Ford, of Lizard Township, Pocahontas County, Iowa. Her parents were natives of County Galway, Ireland, and her father was one of the first settlers of Lizard Township. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton now have three daughters and a son: John Ford, Mary Florence, Lillian Margaret and Alice Rosalia, aged respectively nine, seven, five and three years. Mrs. Dalton is a charming woman, accomplished and well educated and has a large circle of friends in the best society of the community. The family are all members of the Roman Catholic church. Although Mr. Dalton has been prominent in the Democratic politics of the county ever since his entry into the newspaper field, he has no political aspirations, his ambition being to publish a good newspaper, make money and friends and provide a good home and thorough education for his family. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.339]